New Zealand: Skill Shortages Open Doors for Women in Trades |
New Zealand - Skills shortages are prompting employers to buck the trend and employ female apprentices, according to a major new report on Modern Apprenticeships released today (Monday 11 September) by the Human Rights Commission.
Pragmatism is driving the change, says EEO Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor. “Faced with a skills shortage, some employers are thinking outside the box and bringing young women into trades training, which is great.”
Latest figures show that one in twelve Modern Apprentices are women, and a growing number of them are training to become builders, joiners, carpenters, electricians and motor mechanics. “However there is still a long way to go, with female apprentices increasing from 6.6 percent in 2003 to just 8.5 percent today,” Dr McGregor says.
A number of female Modern Apprentices from throughout New Zealand are profiled in the Human Rights Commission report, Give Girls a Go! Female Modern Apprentices in New Zealand, launched in Parliament today by the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Lianne Dalziel. Their stories and reports from their employers aim to raise awareness among young women, educators, careers advisors, industry training groups and employers about the benefits of trades training.
The positive reaction from some employers of female Modern Apprentices challenges stereotypes, Dr McGregor says. “In the past bosses appeared to be stuck in the groove of ‘boys only’. Now many are open to the best person for the job whether they are female, male, Māori, Pacific or from a minority group.”
For example, Christchurch joiner Stuart Cowan of JB Joinery says his female apprentice “hired herself” from the start through her attitude. “We had trouble getting boys with the right attitude in the past few years. To be honest, what did we have to lose?” Cowan says.
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