b'WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTIONWELCOMING MORE WOMENTO THE FIELDFEMALE RECRUITING NEEDED TO ADDRESS SHRINKING LABOUR POOL By Matthew BradfordTHE CANADIAN CONSTRUCTIONa priority for employers. And now thatBringing more women into the fold is INDUSTRY is making gains inanalysts say the industry will need toabout more than filling labour gaps. attracting and retaining more womenrecruit nearly 309,000 workers by 2030Engagement, inclusion and diversity to its ranks. Yet with deepening labourto offset retiring workers and shrinking(EID) has become a central topic across shortages and the percentage oflabour pools, there is a renewed demandall industries, not simply because its tradeswomen still hovering in the singleto make it happen. the right path to pursue, but because all digits, the industrys work is far industries benefit from new perspectives, from over. Some of that hiring requirement will beskill sets and life experiences. met by traditional recruitment sources, At last count, Buildforce Canadabut thats still going to leave a gap ofImportantly, the adoption of EID estimates that women represent onlyjust over 80,000 workers that will needstrategies is prompting employers of 4.7 per cent of tradespeople working into be filled, either through additionalall stripes to do better in engaging construction, and a mere 13 per centrecruitment or pulling workers from otherunderrepresented demographics. of the total industry workforce. True, theindustries or other countries throughTheres a growing emphasis on percentage of women in constructionimmigration, stated Bill Ferreira,inclusion and diversity across the may be several digits higher in Canadaexecutive director of BuildForce Canada,world right now, so it makes sense that than the U.S. (nine per cent) and the U.K.in a recent media statement. Whenconstruction should follow suit, notes (10 per cent), but its not enough for theyou look at the gender breakdown, theAcacia Ashick, vice president with the country to rest on its laurels.fastest way and probably the easiestCanadian Association of Women in way for the industry to meet thatConstruction (CAWIC).LABOUR DEMANDS demand would actually be to increase its Creating more pathways and support forrecruitment of women working in All told, Luana Buratynski, president of women in construction has long beenthe trades. CAWIC, says there are numerous reasons 26Quarter 32021 BUILDERSDIGEST'