Helmets to Hardhats helps military-affiliated women find careers in the skilled trades

It is an unfortunate reality that women are predominately underrepresented in careers throughout the skilled trades. However, with the demand at an all-time high for skilled tradespeople, Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) is committed to increasing awareness, reducing barriers, and ensuring military-affiliated women and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community can find meaningful careers in the skilled trades. Helmets to Hardhats is undertaking this work with the support of the Office to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA).

On International Women's Day, Helmets to Hardhats recognized and celebrated the contributions of tradeswomen throughout Canada while aiming to empower the next generation of tradeswomen who enter the workforce. In recognition of this important day, H2H has reaffirmed its commitment and vital partnership to assist women in service in their search to find rewarding second careers in the skilled trades.

Through the Veterans and Family Well-Being Fund, administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, Helmets to Hardhats recruits and retrains marginalized groups, including women and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, as apprentices within Canada's 14 Building Trades Unions. This initiative has been ongoing since 2022 and has successfully registered 145 individuals from these marginalized communities. Helmets to Hardhats expects to surpass its goal of 150 diverse registrants by the end of March 2024.

As Canada is up against a tight timeline to counteract the aging demographic of the workforce, the construction industry needs to recruit 309,000 new workers over the next decade. Helmets to Hardhats knows that the military-affiliated community is an underutilized demographic crucial to filling these labour shortages. Employers will attest to the military community's skills, including leadership, time management, and work ethic.

While Helmets to Hardhats fills career vacancies with trained, skilled, and reliable employees, they also aid in the successful transition, financial stability, and increased visibility of underrepresented groups within the skilled trades.

H2H believes that the construction industry has a significant role to play in breaking down barriers and biases to ensure that all women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals have the chance to find success in the skilled trades.

"The unionized construction industry has diverse career opportunities requiring a diverse workforce. Helmets to Hardhats is committed to supporting marginalized groups – Veterans, women, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and Indigenous peoples – access the training they need to start and excel in a career in the skilled trades. Helmets to Hardhats will continue to advocate for the value added by all Veterans into the unionized construction industry," said James Hogarth, executive director of Helmets to Hardhats