It’s important to reinforce with students that the skills required in the trades are learnable skills, and that women are fully capable of succeeding across all trade sectors. While outdated misconceptions persist, the skilled trades continue to offer long-term, stable careers for people of all genders. Increasingly, women are choosing the trades because of strong labour-market demand, competitive earning potential, and clear career progression through apprenticeship and certification.
Why encourage students to consider skilled trades?
Skilled trades offer multiple rewarding career pathways with strong alignment to students who prefer applied learning, experiential environments, and tangible outcomes. There are no gender-based limitations on the roles women can pursue, and industry demand continues to grow as the workforce ages and infrastructure investment increases.
As labour shortages intensify, students—particularly young women—are being actively encouraged to explore the trades as a viable postsecondary option. A range of targeted supports exists to reduce barriers to entry, including bursaries, scholarships, outreach initiatives, and mentorship programs designed to support women throughout training and apprenticeship.
What supports are available for young women interested in the trades?
High school students may benefit from exposure to opportunities such as the Jill of All Trades™ event at Fanshawe College, which introduces female students to multiple trade areas in a hands-on, supportive environment. These experiences can be especially valuable for students who are still exploring career fit.
In addition, numerous funding and support mechanisms are available to help address the skilled trades labour shortage, including:
- We Build a Dream scholarships
- Skills Ontario Scholarships and Awards
- Fanshawe College’s Don Crich Skilled Trades Accelerator, which supports women in navigating apprenticeship pathways, program selection, and application processes
From an employer perspective, federal, provincial, and joint funding programs are available to support the hiring and training of apprentices, strengthening the overall apprenticeship ecosystem.
Additional province-wide supports for women in the trades include:
- Support Ontario Youth – Women in the Trades portal
- Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives
- Mentorship programs for female apprentices
Career pathways for women in skilled trades
The skilled trades offer diverse and sustainable career outcomes, with opportunities for specialization, advancement, and entrepreneurship. Fanshawe College delivers a range of skilled trades and apprenticeship programs designed to prepare students with the technical competencies, in-school training, and industry connections needed for successful entry into the workforce.
Guidance counsellors play a critical role in helping students understand these pathways early, normalize trades as a postsecondary option, and connect interested students—especially young women—to relevant supports and experiential opportunities.
What are skilled trades?
Skilled trades encompass a wide range of regulated and non-regulated occupations that provide stable, in-demand employment. While many trades involve hands-on or practical components, they are far from purely manual labour. Success in these fields requires technical knowledge, problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to work with evolving tools, systems, and technologies. Skilled trades span diverse sectors, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, personal services, and hospitality, with careers such as plumber, millwright, automotive service technician, autobody repairer, chef, and hairstylist and many more.
