We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master - Ernest Hemingway Omesh Jethwani, NSW State Manager highlights the many reasons why the male dominated building and construction industry should throw its support behind the employment of female apprentices.

1. 32
mentoring
JANUARY/MARCH 2014
AW Edwards Employee on Site
HIRING A FEMALE APPRENTICE
Omesh Jethwani, highlights why the male dominated construction industry should throw its support behind
the employment of female apprentices.
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one
ever becomes a master.” Ernest Hemingway.
NSW Schools and RTOs are reporting an
increase in students from Year 10 onwards
signing up to learn how to be carpenters,
shopfitters, cabinetmakers, electricians or
plumbers and what is even more fascinating
is the sudden increase and interest of
female students.
It seems that more females are now choosing
to train in the building trades, saying no
and rejecting the more traditionally “female”
roles of hairdressers, childcare workers and
beauticians. Welcome to the growing trend of
future tradeswomen who are trading in their
high heels for boots and mingling with men on
the work site.
A shift in the trend is due to organisations
similar to the Master Builders Association
of NSW who have been promoting
apprenticeships in schools in a way that
challenges traditional gender stereotyping from
an early stage, and will continue to do so.
The NSW Government will spend $200,000
on programs to overcome some of the biggest
stumbling blocks to female participation.
Minister for Women the Hon. Pru Goward
said 70 per cent of girls did not go on to
university after finishing high school, and
opening up trade apprenticeships would,
“help these young women realise they can do
other things beyond those roles traditionally
reserved for them”.
The difference between a male and a female
candidate is that once a female candidate
makes up her mind about pursuing a male
dominated trade she has either researched
and/or completed a pre-apprenticeship course
in school or through an RTO and she usually
ends up making a better apprentice.
Gender should not play a role if an individual
has the right attitude, determination and the
willingness to learn. Females tend to have an
eye for the finer details and are generally more
committed to the job.
Several Reasons Why Employers Should
Hire a Female Apprentice:
It will help address the skills shortages in
the building industry and reduce youth
unemployment;
Employers will be able to attract more
skilled workers. Employers can tap into a
large pool of unskilled and under-utilised
candidates. Female candidates are as
capable, responsible and hard working as
the male candidates;
Employers can revitalise their business
with a fresh outlook. It is a well-known
fact that females see things differently.
Females have different life experiences and
are able to offer new perspectives, new
approaches and a fresh outlook. Female
candidates are able to assist businesses to
innovate for a real competitive edge;
Businesses will automatically improve their
public image and market reach. Employers
will be able to improve and increase
their clientele if female apprentices are
employed. If a company has women
clientele it is beneficial to have female staff.
Females understand the needs of female
clients and can assist with identifying new
opportunities and markets;
It will help businesses improve morale and
employee retention. Female candidates will
stay and work longer with an organisation
if they are accepted, accommodated,
inducted and provided with a career
pathway within the organisation.
Companies from different industries who
have already adopted this attitude have
proven that hiring female apprentices can
improve productivity and their bottom line.
It is also a known fact that employees
want to work for organisations that are
appealing, vibrant, innovative and willing
to adapt and adopt new ideas and offer
career progression.
To break the gender stereotyping even
further, State and Commonwealth
Governments should create better training
and employment opportunities for young
people and challenge gender stereotyping.
The Master Builders Association will run a
pre-apprenticeship course and mentoring
program for female building apprentices in the
first half of 2014.
If you are interested in employing a female
apprentice contact our CAMS Team: Omesh
Jethwani, NSW State Manager or Jack Long,
Apprenticeship Mentoring Officer on 02 8586
3555 or email ojethwani@mbansw.asn.au or
jlong@mbansw.asn.au.
The NSW Government through Women NSW
supports the Women In Construction project.