‘A Trade of One’s Own’: Regional NSW stakeholder findings – The barriers and proposed solutions for women in non-traditional male dominated trades.

The aims of the CSU “Women in Trades” study are to investigate areas that are
fundamental to understanding how women, in regional New South Wales particularly, achieve sustainable careers in the manual trades. It explores why and how women are recruited and retained in such occupations, how they contribute to productivity in the workplace and how these factors promote longevity and career satisfaction. Our research explores the role of individual resilience, socio-cultural factors and workplace cultures in supporting women’s personal and professional success in the manual trades. Our research ultimately explores why some women prosper in jobs that are considered traditionally male-dominated, while others do not.
To date the project team has engaged in eight media outreach opportunities around the nation, presented at two international conferences, three national conferences, five regional symposiums and conducted three comprehensive industry stakeholder consultations. We have conducted 27 in-depth interviews with tradeswomen, apprentices, group training organisations, industry support agencies, employers, VET providers and school careers advisers. Our preliminary findings are published in the International Journal of Training Research and online in The Conversation.