The industry’s latest push to get more ladies on the tools looks like it’s finally bearing fruit after recent reports revealed a significant spike in women beginning careers in construction.
Published yesterday by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), the latest data found that women starting apprenticeships in the first quarter of 2024 had shot up by nearly 80 per cent across the board when compared to figures from five years ago.
Sparky was by far the most popular among the newly minted lady tradies, with the numbers showing a massive 115 per cent increase over entrant numbers back in 2019.
But even the considerably less sexy careers synonymous with a day’s hard labour saw the tide beginning to turn, with welders, fitters and turners also seeing a 26 per cent overall increase in the same time period.
Overall, the impressive numbers are sure to be welcome news to industry lobbyists and government officials who have long advocated for incentives to entice more women into the largely male-dominated industry in the hopes of plugging up Australia’s lingering labour shortage.
Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said it was great to see an increasing number of women taking on a traditionally male-dominated environment.
“We need to change the stereotypes about what a builder or electrician looks like and that’s what our investments are doing,” he said in a statement.
“I’ve been inspired by the many women apprentices I’ve met, like Nikita from the Hunter and Melanie in Hobart. Their stories are important as we go about ensuring all jobs are open to all of us.”
More work to be done
However, despite the promising figures, there is still a long way to go for equal representation between men and women in construction.
According to ABS statistics, women still make up only about 15 per cent of the 1.2 million employees working in the industry, with an even smaller percentage making their way onto the tools.
But that could all change in the coming years if recent federal programs are to be believed. As part of this 2024-25 Budget, ministers revealed they would be launching a nationwide Building Women’s Careers Program targeted at increasing female participation and supporting women in achieving “high-paying construction careers”.
Minister Giles also said that women would enjoy the benefits all apprentices saw in other supportive initiatives like Fee-Free Tafe Placements and a rejigged Apprentice Support Service framework as the Federal Government doubles down on its efforts in the sector.
“We are committed to providing apprentices the support they need to see them through their training into a secure, rewarding career,” he added.
And with Australia’s construction pipeline piling up with work over the coming months as the nation gears up to make good on lofty housing promises and prepare for the coming Olympic Games, Housing Industry Association Senior Executive Director Melissa Adler says more opportunities are available now than ever before.
“The construction industry is filled with a wide range of opportunities for women and we are already seeing a larger percentage of women taking on roles in construction and thriving,” she said.
“Roles in the industry can include planners, architects, surveyors, lawyers and designers and there are a number of female CEOs of construction organisations.
“With the persistent gaps in the supply of labour, women have seen the opportunity to learn a trade or pursue a career in the construction industry not only for the financial benefits, but also for the long-term career progression lacking in other fields of expertise.”
