More women in Alberta are pursuing welding, provincial data shows

When Jessica Cannon lost her job working in a preschool during the pandemic, she decided it was time for a drastic change. 

She signed up for the Journeywoman Start program through Women Building Futures, a non-profit organization that encourages more women to pursue careers in the trades. The training program, now called Journey to Trades, introduces women to a variety of construction trades.

Cannon, now a third-year apprentice welder, likes her new profession and finds the work relaxing.

"When you put your lid down, it's quiet… you just watch the puddle go and it's calming," she said. 

Welding has historically been a male-dominated trade — according to the 2021 census, less than five per cent of welders were female — but a recent surge in female apprentices has some industry-watchers wondering if that could be starting to change.

According to statistics from the Alberta government, the number of female registered apprentices in the welder trade has increased by 60 per cent, rising from 390 in 2022 to 623 in 2023. 

Results from national surveys run in 2023 by the CWB Welding Foundation, a charity founded by the Canadian Welding Bureau, suggest that 19 per cent of students in secondary and post-secondary welding related programs identify as female.

"I think the increase is phenomenal," said Caitlin Hartigan, the director for program management and delivery at Women Building Futures.

Women Building Futures does not track which trades its graduates end up pursuing, but estimates welding is one of the most popular pathways into apprenticeship. 

"Welding is attractive because it is a sustainable career, it's hands-on, you're able to feel accomplished about the projects you're working on and there are a lot of values-aligned employers here in Edmonton that are offering really great positions," Hartigan said.

What's behind the increase?

Mackenzie Blyth, press secretary for Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney, said apprenticeship registrations have been increasing since 2022 as labour market demand for skilled workers has risen.

Other factors, like recruitment initiatives and the accessibility of training and child care, may also affect whether women pursue the trades, he said in an emailed statement.

In May, the province announced a $43-million investment in an advanced skills centre at NAIT, which Blyth said is expected to increase the space for women and girls to begin apprenticeship training. 

Women Building Futures saw 256 women graduate from its programs in the 2023-24 year — up from 188 the year before.

And last year, both Women Building Futures and NAIT partnered with the CWB Welding Foundation to host a welding program for women.

"It's just really great to see that there are more people taking advantage of this opportunity," said Nicole Mahoney, the interim head of the construction-mechanical department at NAIT.

NAIT had 59 women registered as apprentices in the welder trade this year and the number of women in the program has more than doubled since 2019.

Remaining barriers

Cannon said access to child care remains a big barrier for women — especially those who start work early in the morning or work out of town.

Mahoney said a lot of the people she talks to about entering the trades say they worry about not being tall enough or strong enough to succeed.

She said she tells women not to doubt themselves. 

"There are many trade opportunities for everybody so you just have to take the first step," Mahoney said.