Megan Martin
Manager, Industry and Labour Services, WorkSafeBC
Today, the door is open to women in every BC trades sector, and more women are finding a challenging career, job satisfaction, and good pay in the skilled trades. While more women are entering the skilled trades, women still make up just 4.7% of trade workers in BC, according to the BC Industry Training Authority. For employers, diversity in the workplace has been shown to foster creativity and innovation, and many companies who employ tradeswomen feel it gives them a competitive advantage.
With trades facing significant skills shortages, women are in a prime position to fill these new positions. With the right supports in place, including mentorship programs, new workers — whether they’re painters, welders, carpenters, air craft technicians, or mechanics — are paving the way for a future in the skilled trades.
Sharing experiences and providing support through mentorship
Being a mentor offers the satisfaction of helping a new worker grow their skill set and career, as well as the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills. Being able to speak from the trenches and to share experiences with women who are just starting out on their trade journey is crucial to growing a strong female workforce. Mentors add value to an organization as a whole and are seen as leaders and experts in their fields.
