Women are rapidly being recruited to fill the skilled trades job gap.
In construction, safety is not only a priority but a core value for all workers and employers, because everyone deserves to come home at the end of the workday. This value was reflected at a launch event on February 8, 2017, to announce the official partnership between the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) and Women Building Futures (WBF).
These two prominent provincial bodies gathered with almost 100 invited guests to launch their ‘Breakfast with the Leaders’ Series, which aims to connect more women to the growing safety community in Alberta.
Outgoing CEO of WBF, and keynote speaker at the breakfast event, JudyLynn Archer, spoke about how the partnership will bring people and ideas together to make a positive difference in workers’ lives.
“We are facing a national challenge, as 250,000 construction tradespeople are expected to retire and we are left with a tax base lost from the mass exodus of these high income earners that these upcoming retirements will bring,” said Archer.
“This does however, present a tremendous opportunity for Canadian women working in the industry. Together with the ACSA, we plan on providing as much assistance as we can to attract and prepare women with a safety mindset, giving them the best chance to gain employment in Canada’s construction and maintenance workforce.
“With approximately 36,400 construction jobs being done by women across Alberta, and jobs in the sector expected to grow steadily over the next decade, there’s more opportunity now than ever for women with a strong safety mindset to enter this sector and make a positive change. The impact this partnership has on safety in the industry could be a real game changer,” Archer concluded
ACSA’s Chief Operations Officer, and fellow keynote speaker at the event, Tammy Hawkins, spoke from experience when she discussed the challenges and opportunities encountered when striving towards her goal to mentor and lead in safety.
”Diversity in all areas is today’s reality in our workplaces. It enhances our skill sets and our daily interactions. Through this partnership, we wish to convey our commitment to Alberta workplaces, and our belief in the ability of each participant to contribute meaningfully, and safely to our work force,” she said.
”This partnership will make a real difference for women across Alberta. Our efforts will empower them to succeed in non-traditional careers, inspiring positive economic change for women, and forever transforming the face of construction in this province,” Hawkins concluded.
In addition to the regular breakfast speaker series events, this partnership will see the ACSA provide access to its programs and services for WBF students, alumni and staff. This strategically positions WBF students and alumni to successfully compete for employment, complete their apprenticeships, contribute to safer more productive workplaces, and enhance the culture of safety among WBF staff.
