Manitoba’s construction sector is facing a labour shortage. In response, construction industry associations are looking to a largely untapped pool of prospective workers: Women.

“Four per cent of our skilled tradespeople are women,” said Ellowyn Nadeau, board chair of the Winnipeg Construction Association, adding that, when factoring in all professional or office roles in the sector, the percentage of women is between 12 and 14 per cent.

“With women being fifty per cent of the population, there’s a huge opportunity here for women to come in,” said Nadeau.

Most women don’t think of construction or a skilled trade as a career path, says Nadeau, and, in response, the Winnipeg Construction Association has focused on educating students and young people on the potential career paths available to them in the sector.

One major appeal, no matter your age, is the money you can make, says Nadeau.

“I think a lot of people are under the perception that construction workers don’t make a lot of money, which is completely untrue,” she said, also noting that a person can earn a salary as high as $100,000 with only five to six years of experience, depending on the trade.

Right now, Manitoba’s construction sector needs to replace about 4500 workers who are exiting the workforce to retire, according to the Manitoba Construction Sector Council.

Women can fill that gap.

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