Alberta is investing $10.7 million in supporting women building careers in the skilled trades.
Through Budget 2023, the funding will go towards Women Building Futures. The non-profit organization helps unemployed and underemployed women explore a future in the skilled trades where they can gain paid, on-the-job experience and build a career.
They offer 18 employment programs in six Alberta communities. Support services, readiness workshops, affordable housing and other programs and resources are also available through the organization, connecting women to employers while developing job-ready skills.
“More women are joining the skilled trades each year and I’m so excited to see that,” said Tanya Fir, parliamentary secretary for the Status of Women.
“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, for families, for businesses, and for Alberta as a whole.”
The province says partnering with Women Building Futures to increase the number of women in the skilled trades offers new opportunities for well-paying, high-demand work while providing industry with access to crucial talent.
About 5,700 women apprentices were registered in Alberta in 2022 – a 20 per cent increase from 2021. Still, the province says there is more work to be done to alleviate the gender gap in the skilled trades.
Since 1998, more than 2,700 women have graduated from Women Building Futures programs.
“Stable operational funding for Women Building Futures during the next three years gives us the flexibility to keep our focus on helping unemployed and underemployed women remove barriers to successful careers in the trades. This is good for women and good for Alberta,” said Carol Moen, president and CEO of Women Building Futures.
View the original announcement on the Government of Alberta website.