As more and more baby boomers in the trades industry retire, a new demographic is up-and-coming and taking advantage of the job opportunities.
More women, such as Nicole Martini, 24, of West Kelowna, are enrolling and working in trades. Martini is an apprentice plumber.
“There’s a few times where I’ve seen people that were just shocked,” she said.
With the labour shortage growing as boomers retire, Martini’s boss, Bruce Leask, had to become more open about hiring women, despite the concerns about the physical demands of the industry.
“Girls like Nicole will open eyes of other girls about opportunity and they’ll say, ‘Hey, I can do that!’ and be an example. More and more of them will enter the trades,” he said.
There are at least four women in every trades class at Okanagan College in Kelowna.
Many women qualify for financial assistance, and Women in Trades administrator Nancy Darling says grants can cover their full tuition and associated fees, like books, tools and protective equipment.
“They get confident. They’re coming into their own. Their skills are speaking for themselves. It’s fantastic,” Darling said.
And as for Martini, the payoff has been worth it.
“‘I’ve already bought a house within the first few years. I can only imagine what’s going to keep coming once I get my journeyman ticket,” she said.
Comments