BRITISH COLUMBIA – Increased opportunity due to an urgent need for tradespeople and improved training programs are some of the reasons why the number of women in construction in British Columbia continues to climb.
BuildForce Canada reports that women currently represent about 14 percent of the province’s construction workforce and is growing, as women are increasingly entering careers in skilled trades, project management, engineering, and executive roles, driven by targeted recruitment, evolving workplace cultures.
Initiatives like the Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) and the BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT) are helpful in this regard.
BuildForce points out that organizations across the province are investing in that visibility, and BCCWITT is leading initiatives to retain and advance women in construction through leadership training, employer engagement, and the creation of safe, inclusive workplaces.
Its “Be More Than a Bystander” program, adapted from a successful anti-violence campaign in sports, trains male allies in the trades to intervene and challenge inappropriate behaviour on worksites.
Beyond frontline trades, women are increasingly making their mark in executive and policy-making roles, according to BuildForce.
Part of that shift is economic. With skilled labour shortages intensifying — and B.C.’s construction industry expected to grow significantly over the next five years — tapping into underrepresented talent is not just good for equity, it’s essential for business. The Construction Foundation of BC estimates that more than 10,000 construction jobs will need to be filled in the province by 2030.
To meet that demand, companies are turning to inclusive hiring practices and apprenticeship programs that specifically target women and Indigenous workers. The results are promising. Recent data shows female enrollment in construction-related apprenticeships in B.C. has risen by more than 25% since 2018.
For many women in the field, the path forward involves lifting others as they rise.
In another report, BuildForce states that growth in construction demands over the forecast period is projected to require the labour force to expand by 111,600 workers. When this growth is added to projected retirements, the industry’s overall hiring requirement rises to 380,500 workers by 2034.
Based on historical trends, much of this requirement can be met by the expected recruitment of approximately 272,200 new entrant workers under the age of 30 during this period. However, even at these heightened levels of recruitment, the industry may face a shortage of as many as 108,300 workers by 2034.
“Construction enjoyed good success at recruiting new workers from among two key demographic groups in 2024: young people and women. Employment in the industry among workers aged 15 to 24 years grew by 19% last year, while it rose by 5% among women of all ages. Both increases compare favourably to the overall employment increase of 1.8% seen in the industry last year,” says Sean Strickland, Chair of BuildForce Canada. “Our efforts now should be focused on building on these successes, and bringing in more workers from other traditionally under-represented groups, including Indigenous People and newcomers to Canada.”
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