Lady tradies: What it’s like to be a woman working in a trade

Men still outnumber women in the trades, but if the rates continue, women are catching up.

WOMEN are signing up to the trades sector at much faster rates than men but advocates say more needs to be done to achieve gender equality.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the number of women employed in the trades and technical sector increased by 10.6 per cent in the past five years, compared to a 0.9 per cent increase for men.

However, men still heavily outnumber women in sector – with 1,493,900 male tradies employed compared to just 285,600 women.

Crucial Women in Construction Committee spokeswoman Leah Boyce says dedicated women’s change rooms and amenities, and more inclusive workplace safety practices, are helping to attract women to the industry.

“The stigma that trades are for men is slowly breaking down however it does take time to change the way people think,’’ Boyce says.

“Women bring a different perspective and therefore can be a fantastic asset to the construction industry because they approach things differently to men and offer a different angle and opinion.

“The perception is that women will feel excluded or harassed.

“In reality, if you are a good worker with the right attitude you will be respected just like any other worker in the industry, regardless of gender.’’

Build Like A Girl founder Jo Farrell says that, like any other sector, there are good and bad employers.

“You can still get some fairly sexist remarks, which is just appalling given that this is 2021,’’ Farrell says.

“I’ve been in the industry 24 years now and there have been times I have wanted to walk away – but I turn up because I love what I do.

“Construction is genderless.

“It’s not based on gender, it’s not based on strength.

“Anyone with the right attitude can do construction.’’

Farrell says women tradies are generally more safety conscious, able to multitask and problem solve and have good conflict resolution skills that benefit worksites.

She says school-based apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs and pathways courses allow potential workers to road test a construction career, adding that many are surprised at the level of creativity involved.

“We forget sometimes that construction is actually art,’’ Farrell says.

“We create amazing things from a whole bunch of other things, based on some lines on a piece of paper.’’

Jaimee O’Sullivan, 21, is part way through a plumbing apprenticeship with Master Plumbers SA and says she enjoys the variety of tasks, as well as the ability to work with her hands.

“A trade is a skill for life and that’s very rewarding,’’ she says.

“(Host employer) Jordan Plumbing has made me feel equal and welcomed from the first day on the job.’’

Originally published as Lady tradies: What it’s like to be a woman working in a trade