Calling all women! How about a non-traditional trade career?

Hey ladies, have you considered a career in a non-traditional trade? These are trades in industries, such as the construction, engineering and automotive sectors, which are male-dominated. In non-traditional trades, women represent less than 25% of the trade workforce.

Trade jobs help build things, from schools to hospitals and other infrastructure that is important to our society. According to a recent survey, women who work in non-traditional trade jobs are 51% more satisfied with their jobs than people who work in any other industry.

Here are four key reasons why women should seriously think about taking up a career in the trades:

1. Demand for trade jobs is strong

Trade industries across Australia are experiencing skill shortages. According to the National Skills Commission’s 2022 Skills Priority List Key Findings Report, approximately half of all occupations (47%) in the Technicians and Trades Workers occupation group are in shortage. These shortages are most prevalent in the Automotive and Engineering Trades, Construction Trades, Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades.

These results demonstrate there are plenty of job opportunities in these occupations and there is likely to be substantial demand into the future. In fact, it is estimated there will be 200,000 new trade jobs across different sectors in Australia over the next two years.

2. More women are moving into trades

Whilst trade occupations were traditionally seen to be the bastion of men, this is changing. In Australia, women make up only 2% of qualified trade workers in industries such as the construction, electrotechnology and automotive industries. Whilst this figure is very small, more women are choosing careers in these industries and the number of women taking up trade apprentices is increasing.

In Queensland for example, data from Construction Skills Queensland shows that female participation in construction apprenticeships has more than doubled in the last 10 years. Further to this, the number of women in construction apprenticeships in Queensland increased by more than 700 between September 2017 and September 2022.

Even at Skillset, in our role as a Group Training Organisation we have seen an increase in the number of women undertaking non-traditional trade apprenticeships in the Central West. In 2019, 6% of all our apprentices were women in non-traditional trades and in 2023, this figure has grown to 16%.

3. Trade jobs are well-paid jobs

Given the demand for trade occupations across Australia and the important role trades play in the nation’s economic prosperity, pay packets for trade jobs can be very attractive. For example, in the following trades in NSW where women are under-represented and there is a skills shortage, data on full time earnings (before tax) shows people in these trades earn the following:

• Aircraft Maintenance Engineers – $2,694 per week
• Earthmoving Plant Operator – $1,625 per week
• Electrician – $2,120 per week
• Metal Fitters and Machinists – $2,117 per week
• Plumber – $1,419 per week
• Vehicle Painter – $1,553 per week.

These figures demonstrate that trade jobs can offer a high level of economic security for women. It is also worth noting that incomes from these non-traditional trades are higher than trade jobs where women usually dominate, such as hairdressing.

Interestingly, in a recent study of 1,000 women, 58% said they would undertake an apprenticeship if they knew they could earn just as much, or more, than university careers.

4. There is more support for women entering trades

There has been considerable research conducted to understand some of the barriers preventing women from taking up non-traditional trade occupations. Some of these include gender-based stereotypes about the type of work performed by women vs men, negative experiences by women in male-dominated workplaces, and the fact that licenced tradespeople are often men who assume (sometimes unintentionally) that their apprentices will be male.

Women’s increased participation in trade occupations is considered one of the remedies to Australia’s current skill shortage crisis. As a result, there is likely to be greater emphasis by trade sectors to address the current gender imbalance. For instance, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), who represents more than 6,500 businesses in the electrical and communication industry, notes in a recent government submission about perceptions of VET, that almost 10% of current NECA apprentices are female, but believes the proportion of female apprentices could be readily doubled.

Some of the strategies being implemented to support women who are interested in a trade career include:

• Campaigns and roadshows which highlight the successes of individual women who have a trade so that women can ‘see’ other women undertaking trades
• Work experience ‘tasters’ and placements that give women the opportunity to try out a trade prior to taking up an apprenticeship
• Individual career planning and induction programs targeted specifically at women who are interested in a trade
• Mentoring programs for women who start an apprenticeship and continuing these throughout their apprenticeship
• Developing and promoting networks of support with other women apprentices and women tradespeople.

Skillset is playing its role in increasing the number of women in non-traditional trades in our region. . You can find out more about the here.