Government of Canada helps women in Atlantic provinces prepare for high‑demand and well‑paying jobs in the construction trades
Press Release
July 23, 2019 Halifax, Nova Scotia Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada’s changing economy and investments in infrastructure make skills training critical to our future. The Government recognizes the importance of building a diverse workforce and supporting women so they can launch careers in high-demand construction trades.
Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax (Nova Scotia), announced on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, funding of over $2.5 million to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency for its Advancing Women in Apprenticeship project. As part of this project, 40 women will benefit from increased awareness of the skilled trades as a first-choice career for women, employer-specific training, and support to find and retain employment in well-paying, high demand construction trades. Participants will include women from diverse communities, including African Nova Scotians, Indigenous people and newcomers.
This is an Atlantic-wide project funded through the Women in Construction Fund, which supports projects building on existing models that have proven to be effective in attracting women to the construction trades. These include mentoring, coaching and tailored supports that help women to progress through their training and find jobs. The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency is managing the project on behalf of the Atlantic Apprenticeship Council, which is made up of the four Atlantic Apprenticeship authorities.
Approximately 2,800 women are expected to benefit from the Women in Construction Fund, which is receiving funding of $10 million over three years, starting in 2018–19.
Employers, provinces and territories, learning institutions, unions, community organizations and individuals all have key roles to play in Canada’s continued success in building a skilled, mobile and certified workforce that supports Canada’s labour market.
Quotes
“The skilled trades represent high-quality, well-paid, middle‑class jobs that are critical to Canada’s economic growth. By funding this project, we are building a more diverse construction workforce, providing women with the necessary support to launch well-paying careers in in-demand construction trades.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
“Our government’s support for this project with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency will help women in the Atlantic Provinces become ready for good jobs in trades, build better lives for themselves and make their communities stronger.”
– Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax (Nova Scotia)
Quick facts
- Young women continue to be less likely than young men to express interest in a career in the skilled trades. According to an OECD survey, only 2 percent of 15-year-old female students indicated they were planning to pursue a career in the skilled trades, and were more likely to be discouraged by their parents from pursuing a trade career than male students.
- Women’s representation in Red Seal trades where women are under-represented was at 5 percent in 2017.
- Women are concentrated in the three lowest-paying trades: bakers, cooks and hairstylists.
Associated links
Contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Véronique Simard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
veronique.simard@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
819-654-5611
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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