NAIT sees an increase in women in skilled trades

For years, there has been a push to get more women into the skilled trades, and as International Women’s Day approaches, NAIT says there has been some success as they’ve seen more women choosing to pursue a career in male-dominated sectors. 

Brooklyn Jackson, a first-year pipe and steam fitter apprentice, was among the several women at NAIT’s Build Her Up event that raises awareness regarding women in trades.

“I’ve always liked building things, like my whole room is all my furniture. Like, I built it,” said Jackson.

Women continue to remain underrepresented in Canada. Less than 10 per cent of tradespeople are women, according to the Alberta Learning Information Service. Something 19-year-old Jackson felt.

“I wanted to make some connections, especially with women, because I don’t know very many women in the trades, like especially where I work, there’s probably about five of us out of the 50,” said Jackson.

Associate Dean Nicole Mahoney has seen firsthand the women’s representation in the skilled trades. However, for the past five years, NAIT has been seeing an increase in women enrollees.

“Over 20 years ago, I was an ironworker, and when I started, there was less than 10 women in the entire province,” Mahoney explained.

“Five years ago, NAIT had 300 women apprentices. Today, we have a thousand, which is an increase of 70 per cent. We still have a student population of apprentices of over 11,000. We have a long way to go, that’s 10 per cent.”

That increase means good news for Taylynn Price, who is exploring becoming a welder.

“You’re not alone in it, like it’s not like you against every other guy that’s there, you have support. You have people who have already paved the path for you in a way,” said Price.

But for Mahoney, she is hoping the momentum keeps up.