Edmonton, AB — There has been quite a large push in the industry to support women looking to enter the trades. The government of Alberta recently announced a new investment of $10.7 million over three years to help support more women to look at the skilled trades as a viable career.
Women Building Futures, a non-profit organization based in Edmonton, will receive the investment. They offer programs and support services to help unemployed and underemployed women explore careers that pay above a living wage.
“More women are joining the skilled trades each year, and I’m so excited to see that. Women Building Futures does such important work to prepare and support women looking at skilled trade careers, and I’m thrilled that our government is supporting their work. This is great news for women, families, businesses, and Alberta as a whole,” said Tanya Fir, parliamentary secretary for Status of Women.
Through employment training, support services, readiness workshops, affordable housing and more, Women Building Futures connects women to employers while they develop job-ready skills. Since 1998, more than 2,700 women have graduated from Women Building Futures training programs.
About 5,700 women apprentices were registered in Alberta last year, a 20 per cent increase from 2021.