Ontario construction industry needs more women as major projects drive demand

By Grant Cameron

for Daily Commercial News

Nov. 5, 2026

Ontario’s construction industry is making progress in attracting women, but much more needs to be done to ensure they are welcomed, supported and able to build lasting careers in the skilled trades, according to three speakers at a recent Women in Construction webinar.

While the government has rolled out a series of initiatives to get more women into the construction trades, just five per cent of construction apprentices in Ontario are women, they noted.

The speakers - Candice White, CEO of Skilled Trades Ontario, Charmaine Williams, Ontario’s associate minister of women’s social and economic opportunity, and Trevor Jones, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development, all emphasized that expanding opportunities for women is becoming increasingly important as Ontario needs more skilled workers.

The event was hosted by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCO{N).

“With women still representing approximately 5% of construction apprentices in Ontario, there is much work to do,” said White.

Changing those numbers starts well before a woman applies for an apprenticeship, she noted, as girls need to be exposed to skilled-trades careers earlier and see women with whom they can identify already succeeding in the industry.

“Introducing girls to these opportunities early and connecting them with relatable role models is an important step toward building a more inclusive and representative workforce,” she said.

Programs such as the Level Up career fairs are intended to provide that introduction, sheo explained. More than 58,000 students attended the events across Ontario last year, with nearly half being young women exploring opportunities in the skilled trades.

But generating interest is only the beginning.

White said the industry must help prospective tradeswomen understand how to turn that interest into a career, including navigating the apprenticeship system, finding training and financial support, and connecting with employers.

Skilled Trades Ontario has launched an apprentice toolkit to provide practical information from registration through certification, said White, as well as a sponsor toolkit to help employers better understand their responsibilities and available supports.

The effort cannot end once a woman enters the industry, White stressed. Encouragement and mentorship must continue after the door has been opened.

“Every woman who shares her story, every mentor who takes the time to guide someone new, and every employer who creates an opportunity helps change the picture of what a career in construction can look like,” she said.

Similarly, Williams emphasized that increasing female participation requires both recruitment and retention.

The province knows women have “the talent, skills and ambition to succeed” throughout construction, she said, and women are already working on projects, developing expertise and leading teams while helping build the homes and infrastructure Ontario requires.

Their participation, she noted, makes the economy and construction industry stronger, more innovative and more competitive.

However, attracting women without changing the conditions they encounter on jobsites will not be enough.

“We must also ensure that they have the support to remain in the industry, advance their careers and take on those leadership positions,” Williams said.

That means creating respectful workplaces, confronting discrimination and harassment and providing women with training, mentorship and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.

Williams said the provincial government is committed to helping women access good-paying jobs, strengthen their economic independence and reach their full potential.

Williams pointed to nearly $315,000 being provided to the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario through the Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy Fund. The funding will support a tradeswomen leadership conference and expansion of anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training on construction sites.

“Initiatives like these can make a real difference. Mentorship helps women build confidence and learn from the experiences of others and see new possibilities for their future.”

However, creating lasting change, Williams said, will require a collective effort involving governments, employers, unions, training providers and industry organizations.

According to Jones, the economic stakes are significant.

Ontario is undertaking major construction of homes, highways, hospitals, transit and energy projects, he said, and will require a growing pool of workers to deliver that infrastructure.

“To build the future of Ontario, we need all hands on deck. We need to open more doors for women to pursue rewarding, good-paying careers in construction.”

Women’s employment in Ontario construction has grown by more than 15 per cent since the government took office in 2018, reaching nearly 77,000 workers last year, Jones said. Yet women account for only about 13 per cent of the province’s construction workforce.

“We can’t afford to leave that kind of talent and potential on the sidelines,” he said.

Jones pointed to initiatives aimed at making construction workplaces more accommodating, including requirements for properly fitting personal protective equipment, clean and private washrooms and women-only facilities. Ontario has also required menstrual products on large construction sites.

More than $3.9 million in Skills Development Fund support announced recently will also help more than 310 women prepare for in-demand skilled-trades careers through hands-on training, mentorship and employment supports, he said.

Ultimately, however, government programs can only go so far.

“As Ontario faces growing demand for skilled workers, attracting and retaining more women in construction is essential to our economic success and our future,” said Jones. “But government can't do this alone.

“We need employers, unions, training organizations, and industry leaders working together to create workplaces where women feel welcome. they feel supported, empowered to succeed.”