Women in Skilled Trades (WiST)

About the Women in Skilled Trades Project

Women in Skilled Trades (WiST): Inclusive Pathways to Apprenticeship for Newcomer and Racialized Women is a national initiative led by Skills for Change that supports newcomer, immigrant, and racialized women who are interested in building, sustaining, and advancing careers in the skilled trades.

The project focuses on reducing systemic barriers, strengthening leadership capacity, and creating inclusive pathways into Red Seal and related trades, including plumbing, welding, carpentry, and horticulture. WiST operates across multiple provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia, and works closely with employers and sector partners to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the trades.

The WiST project takes a holistic approach that combines leadership development, mentorship, mental health supports, employer engagement, and research-driven knowledge mobilization to drive both individual and system-level change.

Project Goals

Increase confidence, preparedness, and leadership skills among women pursuing skilled trades careers

Improve retention and career advancement opportunities for women already working in the trades

Build national awareness of systemic barriers and opportunities for women in skilled trades

Strengthen employers’ understanding of inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and retention practices

Equip employers and workforce intermediaries with practical tools, resources, and best practices

Who the WiST Project Serves

Participants

Newcomer, immigrant, and racialized women
Women interested in skilled trades careers
Emerging apprentices and trades professionals seeking advancement

Employers & Industry Partners

Skilled trades employers across Canada
Industry leaders and workforce intermediaries committed to inclusive and sustainable workplaces

Key Components and Activities

Leadership Training & Mentorship

Leadership academies designed specifically for women in the skilled trades are paired with one-to-one and group mentorship opportunities. These supports provide personalized guidance, career navigation, and practical strategies to help participants advance and grow in their trades careers.
Mental Health & Wraparound Supports

Mental health workshops and wellness supports that help participants manage personal and workplace challenges while pursuing careers in the skilled trades. The program also includes employment-focused wraparound services to reduce barriers to participation, along with ongoing check-ins, referrals, and individualized support to ensure women remain supported and engaged throughout their journey.
National Events & Workshops

Large-scale national events, regional employer-focused workshops on inclusive hiring and retention, and employer roundtables and knowledge-sharing sessions are core components of the WiST project, supporting awareness, collaboration, and shared learning across the skilled trades sector.
Employer Engagement & Research

Employer advisory committees across regions, along with primary and secondary research on labour market trends, are key components of the WiST project. Surveys and ongoing feedback loops with employers help inform program design, strengthen outcomes, and ensure the project remains responsive to sector needs.
Knowledge Mobilization

Knowledge mobilization is a core component of the WiST project, including labour market trend reports, employer success stories and case studies, and best-practice guides for employers and workforce intermediaries. The project also produces practical tools and resources to support more inclusive workplaces across the skilled trades sector.

Key Program Areas

WiST Global Leadership Academy

The WiST Global Leadership Academy supports women in skilled trades to strengthen leadership confidence, workplace communication, and career advancement skills. Through structured learning, peer exchange, and mentorship, participants build the tools needed to navigate barriers, take on leadership roles, and advocate for more inclusive workplaces within the trades sector.

Knowledge Mobilization & Research

The WiST project’s knowledge mobilization work translates research into practical insights for employers, workforce intermediaries, and sector partners. Through labour market trend reports, employer surveys, and case studies, the project highlights barriers facing women in skilled trades and shares evidence-based strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement. These resources support data-informed decision-making and sector-wide change.

National & Regional Events

The WiST project has delivered in-person and hybrid events designed to build awareness, foster connection, and strengthen employer engagement across Canada. These events have brought together women in trades, employers, industry leaders, and community partners to share experiences, explore inclusive practices, and create pathways into skilled trades careers.

Event locations included:

Kelowna, BC – Regional engagement and employer-focused sessions
Vancouver, BC – National workshops and knowledge-sharing events
Surrey, BC – Community-based outreach and participant engagement
Cape Breton and Halifax, NS – Regional events connecting women with employers and sector leaders
Toronto and Peel – Knowledge mobilization and employer / Women in Skilled Trades connection

Employer Engagement & Sector Collaboration

Through advisory committees, employer roundtables, and workshops, the WiST project team worked directly with employers to strengthen inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and retention practices. These engagements created space for dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration, supporting employers in building more equitable and sustainable skilled trades workplaces.

Knowledge Mobilization Reports

Report 1

Report 2

Report 3

Report 4

Why the WiST Project Matters

Despite strong labour demand in the skilled trades, women remain significantly underrepresented across these sectors. The WiST project addresses this gap by supporting women directly while also working with employers and industry leaders to drive long-term, systemic change.

By combining individual skill-building with employer engagement and research, WiST contributes to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable skilled trades workforce across Canada.