A new venture aimed at increasing women’s participation and retention rates in Red Seal trades across Ontario has received over $2 million in federal funding.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, Women in Red Seal Trades – Advancing the Career Ecosystem brings together Sheridan College, St. Clair College, Fanshawe College and Durham College, in partnership with Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union. Unifor contributed an additional $300,000 to the grant.

“Durham College is proud to support this project as a means to increase the engagement and success of women in the skilled trades by identifying and removing barriers to their participation. Through this partnership, we will continue to lead the way by developing knowledgeable and experienced skilled trades graduates who can step into rewarding careers that can make a difference in our local communities,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, Executive Vice President, Academic, Durham College.

Over three years, this group will spearhead initiatives focused on elevating awareness and providing opportunities for women in exploring career education, networking and apprenticeships within the Red Seal skilled trades. The Red Seal Program sets common standards to assess the skills of tradespeople across Canada. The Red Seal endorsement is proof that a tradesperson has met the national standard in their trade.

By 2025, one in five jobs in Ontario will be in the skilled trades, and it’s estimated that by 2028, the skilled trades shortage in Ontario will increase to 560,000. With women making up just 5 per cent of workers in the skilled trades in Canada, this program will work towards closing this gap through the retention of these talented tradespeople, offering women the support they need to be successful in their chosen fields.

Key to the partnership’s goals is the establishment of a Women in Trades Network which will feature a community for apprentices and women in the trades. This network will aim to build community through events and mentorship (both virtual and in person). Sheridan, St. Clair, Fanshawe and Durham will leverage their well-respected expertise, industry contacts and alumni within the skilled trades to build and maintain this network, offering women in the skilled trades a safe space to connect, network and share lived experiences.

Some of the additional key goals of Women in Red Seal Trades – Advancing the Career Ecosystem include:

• Increased partner network capacity to support women in skilled trades.
• Increased participation and higher retention of women apprentices.
• Reduced barriers for women to accessing trades training and finding secure employment.
• Increased preparedness and willingness by industry partners and employers to continue hiring women apprentices.
• Increased knowledge of the long-term recruitment strategies for women entering the Red Seal trades.

“Reducing barriers for women entering the skilled trades is an essential part of expanding and diversifying Canada’s workforce,” said Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. “We created the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative to help women participate and succeed in Red Seal trades apprenticeships through projects like the Women in Red Seal Trades – Advancing the Career Ecosystem. Supporting Women in the skilled trades is not just the right thing to do, it will help meet the growing demand for skilled trades workers and help grow our economy.”