The Skilled Trades Are Not Gender-Specific
MYTH: Women don’t belong in the skilled trades
FACT: Women belong anywhere they want
Anyone can become an expert in a trade they love! Build on your unique strengths and help shape Canada’s future – all with the support of a union behind you.
- Earn while you learn
- Hands-on learning
- Mentorship programs
- Competitive wages and benefits
- Rewarding work
- Plenty of room to move up
- A workforce that welcomes you!
The skilled trades are NOT gender-specific
Check out these testimonials from women about why they love their careers in the unionized skilled trades.
Earn while you learn on your way to a rewarding career
Inclusive environment
There are many women in the skilled trades and unions. Unions across Canada continue to work to make the skilled trades a welcoming place for all.
Earning potential
High-paying wages aren’t just for doctors, lawyers and CEOs. Many trades in Canada offer excellent starting wages with the potential to earn six figures!
Rewarding careers
Help shape your community’s future by working on projects you can be proud of and that will continue to make an impact for generations!
Work-life balance
Many trades offer more flexibility than a typical 9-to-5 desk job, with a ton of medical and financial benefits that your family can take advantage of.
Start your next career move here!
Explore the trades below to find the best fit for you.
Bricklayer
Bricklayers prepare, lay brick and other masonry units to construct and repair structures such as walls, partitions, fireplaces and chimneys. They also lay or install fire brick or castable materials on commercial or industrial projects.
Responsibilities
- Read sketches & blueprints to calculate materials required
- Measure and construct corners first, using a plumb line & mason’s level to ensure level layers
Camp Worker
Camp Workers plan, prepare and serve meals and clean facilities in remote construction camps. These hospitality workers play a critical role on site!
Responsibilities
- Safely operate kitchen equipment
- Prepare meals and cook using grills, ovens & fryers
Carpenter
Carpenters take the designs made by architects and turn them into reality. We use materials like wood, vinyl and plastic to build both the inside and outside parts of houses and other structures. Carpenters can work for construction companies, on maintenance crews, or run their own business.
Responsibilities
- Read blueprints, drawings and sketches
- Measure, cut and join materials made of wood or wood substitutes
Concrete Finisher
Concrete Finishers/Cement Masons place, level and finish perishable concrete in various settings, including residential, commercial, industrial and institutional construction. They install overlayments and perform repairs to restore deteriorated surfaces, as well as install structural and machine base grouts.
Responsibilities
- Place and finish concrete in construction walls & floors and curbs & sidewalks
- Perform dry finishing & remedial work
Construction Craft Worker
The Construction Craft Worker Trade appeals to people who enjoy being physically active, working outdoors and using various manual and power tools. Construction craft workers work in many different industries, including civil construction, road building, highrise construction, demolition, dam and tunnel construction, pipelines and various others.
Responsibilities
- Handle, transport and distribute various construction materials
- Perform various duties involving lifting, carrying tool use and machinery management
Crane Operator
Crane Operators must work in various environmental and hazardous conditions and occasionally in confined spaces under minimal supervision. Crane operators operate various makes and models of lattice boom, telescopic boom, and boom truck cranes. They may also be required to perform minor crane repairs and maintenance.
Responsibilities
- Safely perform inspections, lifts, transport, and maintain cranes
- Determine crane and rigging capacities
Drywall Finisher
Drywall Finishers tape and finish wallboard (drywall). They also apply, maintain and restore plaster and similar materials on interior and exterior walls, ceilings and building partitions to make them more decorative, soundproof and fire-rated.
Responsibilities
- Apply assorted beads, reveal and shadow trims that transform ordinary walls into “Drywall Art”
- Mix and apply filling compounds, then sand them to create a smooth finish
Electrician
Electricians design, plan, install, repair and maintain electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, industrial complexes and retail buildings. There’s also growing demand for specialized work with controls, Internet of Things (IoT), renewable energy projects, fibre optics and communication and computer networks.
Responsibilities
- Plan new systems and upgrade older systems, wiring, receptacles & light fixtures
- Install fiber optic systems, fire alarms, security & data systems
Glazier
Glaziers fabricate, install and repair commercial and residential window, door and entranceway systems. They can work with construction glass installation contractors, interior design and architectural firms, and glass fabrication shops. There is always a demand for glaziers!
Responsibilities
- Read and interpret drawings & specifications
- Measure, cut, fit, install and/or secure glass panes, window parts & architectural metals
Hazardous Materials Abatement Worker
Hazardous Materials Abatement Workers identify, remove, package, transport and dispose of hazardous materials such as asbestos, mould, lead, mercury, PCBs and other biological hazards.
Responsibilities
- Comply with safety procedures, provincial regulations and federal laws
- Pre-cleans work areas
Heavy Equipment Operator
Heavy Equipment Operators operate heavy machinery such as articulating haul trucks, loaders, excavators, backhoes, dozers, graders, rollers, and skid steers. These machines are universally used for all heavy construction, including earthmoving, road building, mining, and forestry. Operators are responsible for safe equipment operations, basic equipment maintenance, the application of markers, grades and stakes, and the heavy equipment GPS guiding systems.
Responsibilities
- Safe operation of haul trucks, loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, and other heavy equipment
- Operate heavy paving equipment safely for building roads
Insulator
Insulators apply, remove and repair thermal and acoustical insulation using a range of insulation materials (e.g., fibreglass, mineral wool, styrofoam, etc.) on all types of mechanical equipment, such as plumbing and piping systems, HVAC systems, heat exchangers, tanks, vessels and other mechanical systems.
Responsibilities
- Measure and cut insulating material & coverings to required shape and dimension
- Fit insulation around obstructions or shape insulation materials & protective coverings
Ironworker
Ironworkers rig, handle and place all the rebar, post tensioning and structural steel on a construction site such as columns, beams, girders and more. In B.C., they can work on high rise & commercial buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, mines, stadiums and other structures. An ironworker generalist is trained in both reinforcing and structural steel.
Responsibilities
- Select, cut, bend, position and secure steel bars & wire mesh to reinforce concrete
- Read blueprints & specifications
Painter/Decorator
Painters/Decorators apply decorative and protective finishes in commercial, institutional and industrial settings. They prepare a variety of surfaces (wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, concrete, synthetics, stucco and metal) prior to the application of materials such as paint, high performance coatings, waterproofing, fireproofing, varnish, shellac, wall coverings, and specialty finishes.
Responsibilities
- Use, maintain and repair various types of spray pumps, spray guns, pressure washing equipment and sand blasting equipment & related components
- Read and interpret blueprints
Plumber / Steamfitter / Sprinklerfitter
Plumbers, Steamfitters and Sprinklerfitters are all part of the Piping Trades. Each trade is unique and offers different career opportunities. They can work in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial construction, as well as in refineries, LNG facilities and shipyards.
Responsibilities
- Plumbers study building plans and install underground, sanitary and water piping systems
- Steamfitters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain and repair piping systems
Refrigeration Mechanic
Refrigeration Mechanics fabricate, install, alter, repair and service equipment that freezes, cools and/or heats. This equipment is used in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors. They will also have a B Gas Fitter ticket when their apprenticeship is complete.
Responsibilities
- Comprehend schematic diagrams and troubleshooting
- Measure, cut and connect piping using welding and brazing equipment
Scaffolder
Scaffolders build temporary structures that help support tools, materials, and give workers safe access to high or hard-to-reach places during construction or repairs. They work in many areas of construction like residential, commercial and industrial settings.
Responsibilities
- Unload scaffolding material
- Set up base plates and scaffold tubes
Sheet Metal Worker
Sheet Metal Workers lay out, fabricate, assemble, weld, install and service a variety of projects such as HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), industrial, kitchen and hospital equipment, and architectural work. A Sheet metal worker requires highly specialized and up-to-date skills to accomplish the various tasks involved in the trade.
Responsibilities
- Lay out, measure and mark sheet metal according to drawings or templates
- Develop computerized patterns and layouts
Teamster
Teamsters move crews and materials using a pickup truck to a rock truck to a nine axle lowboy. There is no sector of industry, be it heavy construction, agriculture, manufacturing, road building, or oil and gas, which does not require the services of teamsters. Teamsters drive a wide range of motorized vehicles in a safe and skillful manner.
Responsibilities
- Haul people & material
- Schedule deliveries & shipments
Wall & Ceiling Installer
Wall & Ceiling Installers frame interior walls and install window frames, doors, partitions and computer floors. They hang drywall, T-bar ceilings and suspended ceilings
Responsibilities
- Use architectural blueprints to lay out walls and ceilings for a project
- Assemble interior and exterior walls, ceilings and partitions