Building Pathways to Equity: Construct Empowers Women Entering the Trades
In 2020, Blue Door launched Construct, a designed to help break down employment barriers for vulnerable individuals in the community. Construct is a comprehensive 8-week skills training program, where participants learn the technical skills and knowledge to work in the trades field. Construct also offers wraparound support services such as wages during training, transportation assistance, psychotherapy, food support, and essential safety equipment.
To further align with Blue Door’s mission, Construct introduced its first-ever women’s cohort this year, a groundbreaking step toward creating opportunities for women in the trades. With women holding just 5% of trades jobs in Canada, the need for this kind of initiative is clear.
Participants gain practical experience in areas such as carpentry, drywall installation, painting, and more. Alongside the training, the program includes vital supports like training wages, transportation assistance, childcare services, and access to mental health resources.
As we reflect on Equal Pay Day this month, we are reminded that, on average, women in Canada still earn about 88 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to Statistics Canada. The gap is even wider for women who are Indigenous, racialized, newcomers, or living with disabilities.
“Constructs goal is to provide women with the opportunity to learn and build trade skills in a safe, empowering environment”, says Emma Wood, Director of Employment and Expansion at Construct. Emma continues, “Women will play a key role in filling the skilled trade labour gap and Construct is excited to provide a supportive pathway for women into the trades.”
Since its inception, Construct has helped hundreds of individuals gain the confidence, skills, and connections they need to thrive in an industry that continues to face labour shortages. But more importantly, it has opened doors for individuals often facing challenges from entering the workforce including newcomers, racialized individuals, and now, women.
Construct’s women’s cohort is a crucial step toward closing the wage gap. By giving women, the skills, support, and opportunities to succeed in the skilled trades, the program is opening doors to high-paying sustainable jobs in an industry where women have long been left out. It’s more than just job training; it’s about creating real change and helping women build lasting careers and brighter futures.
To learn more, please visit https://constructgta.ca/about-us/
