A career in the building and construction industry is a great choice for women
Currently only about 13.3% of the construction workforce is made up by women and we’d like to see that percentage increase. Traditionally, the industry has been seen as male-orientated, but this need not be the case. At Master Builders Victoria, we understand that the building and construction industry offers a wide range of diverse roles that can be suited to anyone and everyone. Women are welcomed and appointed into varied roles in both small and large construction companies and are achieving tremendous success. Take Carley Attard, aster Builders Victoria 2021 Apprentice of the Year, as a great example. Carley undertook an apprenticeship in Engineering - Fabrication Trade, working in steel fabircation. Now she's completed her apprenticeship, she's not only a qualified boiler maker, but is a team leader at her company managing others on site! Carley is a fantastic role model and her career to date demonstrates the success that young women can aspire to.
Have a read below at what some inspiring women have to say about how they got into the industry, the rewards of their roles in building and construction and some of their words of wisdom if you are considering a career in construction.
Stefanie, Carpenter and Site Manager
I’d like to encourage women to take up trades in the future and I’d like to promote the industry to women as a lot of women can be scared, because it’s more male dominated, to join the industry. It is possible, and women are just as capable of doing it as men.
Courtney, Painter and Decorator
The main reward for working in the industry is seeing the client’s reaction to your work and the happiness they get from it. Nothing beats it.
Ebony, Joiner
I tried uni, but it just wasn’t what I really wanted to do. I just knew that I wanted to work hands-on in the building industry and I found a job as a joiner. I couldn’t think of doing anything else now – I really enjoy it.
Emily, Carpenter
I love doing the fix, like hanging doors. It takes a bit of skill and an eye for detail to really get things finished. I love what I do. I love this industry. I’d like to start a business with females and I’d love to get more females in to carpentry.
Ruby, Carpenter
I just love that you can get to create things. It’s really great to look back at it and think, ‘I actually did that’. Carpentry is such a great thing to learn and to have those skills is really good. I just love everything about it.
Taylah-Anne, Joiner
An apprenticeship was something that I always had in the back of my mind but being female, I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I just went for it and I'm really glad I did. I'd like to encourage and give people confidence to see that there's so many different pathways out there