MANITOBA CONSTRUCTION SECTOR COUNCIL
The Manitoba Women in
Trades Movement
More women are seeing the benefits
of a career in construction
By Carol Paul, executive director, Manitoba Construction Sector Council
According to BuildForce Canada, Manitoba will need to
recruit workers from traditionally underrepresented
groups in the current labour force to meet industry’s
future labour demands.
Currently, only four per cent of tradespeople are women.
However, with the loss of employment in the hospitality and tourism
sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, women are turning
their attention in greater numbers to careers in skilled trades where
they can make a good living and work in an essential service sector.
In addition, many high school students continue to pursue an
expensive university education that will likely lead to large debt,
but may or may not lead to employment upon graduation. Over the
next 10 years, Manitoba will need to fill approximately 8,300 skilled
labour positions, and women can help to address this skill shortage.
Recently, the Manitoba Status of Women Secretariat contacted
the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) with funding
to introduce more women to skilled trades positions. MCSC
partnered with Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, River
East Transcona School Division and Office to Advance Women
Apprentices (OAWA) to introduce 12 young women to careers
in the heavy construction industry. These young women will be
employed in the heavy construction industry to address the current
skills shortage. In addition, MCSC received funding from
Manitoba Status of Women to bring awareness and training to
Indigenous women living across the province. These women will
be employed as framers, water and waste installers and blast hole
drillers upon program completion.
Construction companies that are seeking women for employment
on local construction projects or women who are seeking
entry or advancement in trades can reach out to OAWA, which
registers and supports women throughout their construction
journey and works with employers to find the right fit. OAWA recommended
MCSC deliver workshops, such as “Breaking Barriers,
Building Bridges,” which is designed to support women’s success
in the construction industry. MCSC is also developing a workshop
for employers who are seeking HR support with the recruitment
and retention of women.
MCSC is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to
strengthen Manitoba’s construction sector workforce by promoting
the construction industry as a career of choice. The organization
does this through high value training programs to address current
and future skills and training gaps. Employers can reach out
to MCSC to address any questions about how the organization
can support training and employment needs. MCSC is funded by
the Province of Manitoba as the liaison between government, academic
institutions and the construction industry to:
• Promote construction as a career of choice
• Engage industry to identify skill and training gaps
• Deliver skill-based training
• Deliver immersive training technology
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