There's never been a better time to Buy BC and support local growers, producers and the food we love right here in BC.  Explore Buy BC products
Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. BC Gov News
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Live Webcast
  • News  
  • News  
  • By Ministry
    • Office of the Premier
    • Agriculture and Food
    • Attorney General
    • Children and Family Development
    • Citizens' Services
    • Education and Child Care
    • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
    • Energy and Climate Solutions
    • Environment and Parks
    • Finance
    • Forests
    • Health
    • Housing and Municipal Affairs
    • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
    • Infrastructure
    • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
    • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
    • Labour
    • Mining and Critical Minerals
    • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
    • Public Safety and Solicitor General
    • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
  • Subscribe
Live Webcast
By Ministry
  • Office of the Premier
  • Agriculture and Food
  • Attorney General
  • Children and Family Development
  • Citizens' Services
  • Education and Child Care
  • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
  • Energy and Climate Solutions
  • Environment and Parks
  • Finance
  • Forests
  • Health
  • Housing and Municipal Affairs
  • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
  • Infrastructure
  • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
  • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
  • Labour
  • Mining and Critical Minerals
  • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
  • Public Safety and Solicitor General
  • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
  • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
  • Transportation and Transit
  • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

OPINION-EDITORIAL: B.C. celebrates more women in trades this International Women's Day

Share

More from this Ministry
Honourable Diana Gibson

Honourable Diana Gibson

Honourable Diana Gibson

Read Bio

Contact

Email: JEDI.Minister@gov.bc.ca

close menu Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

Province helps build global connections for B.C.’s life-sciences sector

June 13, 2025 9:00 AM
B.C. will lead a delegation of companies to the BIO International Convention in Boston, Mass., to attract more investment to the province’s life-sciences sector and build relationships with other countries to help strengthen the economy against ongoing U.S. tariffs.
  Read More

Minister’s statement on May Labour Force Survey results

June 6, 2025 8:39 AM
ALL NEWS FROM THIS MINISTRY
More from this Ministry
  • Factsheets & Opinion Editorials
  • Search News
  • Minister's Bio
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Print

Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

British Columbia News

OPINION-EDITORIAL: B.C. celebrates more women in trades this International Women's Day

https://news.gov.bc.ca/05818

Share

Factsheet

Friday, March 7, 2014 1:07 PM

Share

Factsheet

Friday, March 7, 2014 1:07 PM

More from this Ministry

  • Factsheets
  • Ministry Website
  • Ministry Photos
  • Ministry Videos

Featured Topics

  • Economic Recovery
  • Economic Development
  • Small Business Support
  • Investment In Businesses With High-Growth Potential
  • Technology and Innovation

Featured Services

  • BizPal
  • Trade and Invest British Columbia

By Shirley Bond
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour

VICTORIA - International Women's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the many career options available to women today. Doors are opening in every sector of our economy, and the increasing number of women in British Columbia who are launching careers in the skilled trades is a sign of this progress.

Opportunities are on the rise for women who want to pursue careers as plumbers, electricians, sheet-metal workers or other skilled trades. Since 2009, the percentage of women apprentices in B.C. has risen from 8.5% to 10.3%, with even bigger increases in trades such as welding and heavy equipment operation.

That's progress, but we must go further. That's why, through our BC Jobs Plan, we're working closely with organizations like the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to continue to support programs like Women in Trades Training (WITT).

To date, the WITT program has successfully linked over 2,500 women throughout B.C. to training in the skilled trades, as well as to vital financial assistance for things like tools, textbooks, equipment and child care while they complete their education. And thanks to WITT's recent Power Up Women in the Trades conference in Vancouver, we now have a better understanding of how to attract women to the trades and how to support them once their training is completed.

But we're not stopping there. We know that getting more women into the trades means reaching out to young women while they're still in school and making important decisions about their future. In response, Government is developing a 10-year skills training action plan for youth to look at how to get more young people, including girls, into a trades apprenticeship even before they complete high school.

These and other activities are part of government's overall strategy to increase the number of women who can help meet B.C.'s labour needs. And with B.C. on the cusp of a major development boom, achieving this goal has never been more important.

The growth of B.C.'s liquefied natural gas industry and other key resource sectors, along with more skilled tradespeople retiring each year, adds up to 43% of the one million job openings expected in trades and technical occupations. Connecting women with the skilled trades can help put them at the front of the line to fill these job openings - and help build B.C.'s economic success.

So this International Women's Day, I hope you will take a moment to consider the many opportunities available in the trades for you or someone you know. There has never been a better time for women to pursue careers in the skilled trades.

For more information:

On government's commitment to skills training, visit: www.bcjobsplan.ca

On the Women in Trades Training program, visit: www.itabc.ca/women-trades/overview

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

https://news.gov.bc.ca/05818

Related Articles

Province helps build global connections for B.C.’s life-sciences sector

June 13, 2025 9:00 AM

Minister’s statement on May Labour Force Survey results

June 6, 2025 8:39 AM

Asia trade mission opens opportunities for B.C. products, businesses

June 11, 2025 11:45 AM
BC Gov News

Connect with the Ministry

Photos

View the Ministry's latest photos on Flickr.

Videos

Watch the Ministry's latest videos on YouTube.

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

Government of B.C. Government of B.C.

We can help in over 220 languages and through other accessible options.   Call, email or text us, or find a service centre.

Connect with Us

  • Subscribe
  • Social and RSS

More Info

  • BC Gov
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Government of British Columbia