Women across the province are getting more opportunities to learn a skills trade.
The Government of Alberta announced on Thursday they’re providing $10 million over the next four years to Women Building Futures.
The non-profit works alongside industry offering training, mentoring, and support for women who are looking at a career in a trade.
“By supporting Women Building Futures, we will be able to achieve three key goals. First, we will address the growing shortage of skilled tradespeople in Alberta. Second, we are empowering women to purse rewarding careers in industries where women are traditionally under-represented. Third, this investment recognizes that apprenticeship learning and the skilled trades have every bit as much value, merit and worth as a university degree,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education, in a release.
Around 5.3 per cent of the province’s workforce in construction and maintenance industry are women.
The new funding will help Women Building Futures expand their programming across the province and help women find jobs in their field of choice.
“This multi-year investment by the Government of Alberta in Women Building Futures is about transforming women’s lives, families and communities,” added Kathy Kimpton, President of Women Building Futures.
“We know women are succeeding in the trades every single day, and Alberta’s labour market is going to need more skilled tradespeople to support our economy.”
The province notes around 20,000 skilled workers are set to retire over the next five years and 45,000 over the next 10 years.
