The trade and construction industries have long been dominated by men. According to a March report from Master Builders Australia, women make up about 15 per cent of the construction industry and less than 3 per cent of trade occupations. The latter figure has remained virtually unchanged since the late 1980s. So, why is this still the case? Jo Farrell is general manager of Kane Constructions and founder of Build Like a Girl, a not-for-profit encouraging women to pursue trade occupations.
" Macdonald said reforming apprenticeships to become more accessible to women could be beneficial to the workforce, particularly during a national skills shortage . Modelling released earlier this month by Master Builders Australia indicated the nation is likely to fall well short of its goal of constructing 1.2 million extra homes by July 2029. The modelling showed Australia was on track to produce 1.03 million homes within that timeframe, a shortfall of 166,000 properties.