Women in Skilled Trades - Industry Perspectives Survey

Women in Skilled Trades Industry Perspectives Survey

This survey is designed to gather candid insights from employers, organized labour, and industry partners about the current landscape for women and gender-diverse individuals in the skilled trades. Your input will help us better understand the barriers, challenges, and opportunities that exist—and identify what’s working, what needs to change, and how we can move forward together.

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Your honest feedback is essential to shaping meaningful, industry-informed strategies that support more inclusive, equitable, and thriving careers in the skilled trades.
SECTION 1: Your Organization
What type of organization are you representing or work for?*
Please specify below:*
Other (please specify)
What best describes your role within your organization?*
Please specify below:*
Other (please specify)
Size of organization:*
How many skilled trades workers does your organization currently employ?*
How many identify as women?*
What Province or Territory do you operate in:*

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanNorthwest TerritoriesNunavutYukon
Geographic area(s) most of your trades work takes place:*

UrbanRuralNorthern/Remote
Which Red Seal Skilled Trades are represented in your workforce?*

Construction ElectricianCarpentryWeldingPlumbingHeavy Equipment OperatorsWe employ other skilled trades
Please specify below:*
We employ other skilled trades (please specify)
SECTION 2: Recruitment and Hiring
In the past 12 months, have you received applications from women for skilled trades positions?*
Do you actively target or recruit women for skilled trades positions?*
What challenges do you face in attracting more women to apply?
What trades roles do you mostly target or recruit tradeswomen for:*
Please specify below:
Other (please specify)
Which recruitment strategies have been most effective for your organization?*

Community partnershipsWorkforce development agenciesAdvertising in women-focused social media groupsAttending career fairs and industry eventsInternal referral programsPartnerships with local secondary schools or post-secondary academic institutionsParticipation in pre-apprenticeship programsOther
Please specify below:
Other (please specify)
SECTION 3: Retention and Advancement
How would you describe your organization’s overall approach to gender inclusion in the trades?*
How would you compare retention of women to men in your skilled trade’s workforce?*
Are there women in supervisory or leadership roles within your skilled trades workforce?*
In your opinion, what are some of the biggest barriers to retaining women in the skilled trades?*

Limited recruitment pathways or pipelinesWorkplace cultureInflexible or demanding work hoursLack of mentorship or support networksJobsite conditions (e.g., lack of appropriate facilities)Physically demanding or unsafe working conditionsHarassment or discriminationLow awareness of career opportunitiesResistance to change within the organization or industryOther
Please specify below:
Other (please specify)
Does your organization currently sponsor apprentices?*
Do you currently have any women being sponsored as apprentices?*
How many women apprentices do you currently sponsor and what level are they?*
For all 12 items in this section, please indicate your level of agreement with each statements.
Our organization offers mentorship opportunities for women in the trades.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
We have an active employee resource group that supports women or equity-deserving employees.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
We provide bystander intervention or allyship training to staff.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Flexible work hours or schedules are available to support childcare and caregiver needs.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
We offer training bursaries or financial support for upskilling or certifications.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
We have a designated women’s advocate or similar role.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Our facilities, job sites and workspaces are inclusive and accommodate the needs of all genders.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Health and mental wellness supports are available and promoted in our workplace.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Our organization has strong zero tolerance policies in place to address harassment or abuse issues on jobsites.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
The jobsite experience for women is different from what our organization’s leadership believes it is.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Women in trades roles in our organization have the same access to advancement opportunities as men do.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
All supervisors and forepersons in our organization have completed workplace harassment prevention training within the last two years.*

Strongly disagreeSomewhat agreeNot SureSlightly disagreeStrongly agree
Of those, how many are women (including cisgender and transgender women)?*
What would help your organization build or support a more diverse skilled trades workforce?
Please specify
What barriers might be preventing women from advancing into higher-level or leadership roles in your organization?
Please specify
In your opinion, what qualities or skill sets do you think employers value most when it comes to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in the skilled trades?
Please specify
SECTION 4: Final Insights
What do you think the industry as a whole could do better to support women in the trades?
Please specify
Would you be open to being contacted for a follow-up conversation regarding the experiences of tradeswomen in your organization?*
Please provide your contact information.*
Any final thoughts or recommendations you’d like to share?
Please specify
Should be Empty:

Women in Skilled Trades Industry Perspectives Survey

SECTION 1: Your Organization

SECTION 2: Recruitment and Hiring

SECTION 3: Retention and Advancement

For all 12 items in this section, please indicate your level of agreement with each statements.

SECTION 4: Final Insights