Boosting women apprentices in male-dominated trades

Apprenticeships provide a great pathway for women into a range of trade careers. However, reviews highlight that women and non-binary people face barriers – which Apprenticeships Support Australia (ASA) is helping to overcome.

Strategic Review

A Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System was undertaken in 2024, examining the effectiveness and efficiency of the current incentive system in supporting the uptake and completion of Australian apprenticeships.

It found that in the 12 months to 31 December 2023, a total of 62,745 women started an apprenticeship, representing 36.9 per cent of total commencements (170,370).

Women are much more likely to undertake an apprenticeship in a non‑trade occupation, with only 19.1 per cent of women starting training towards a trade occupation.

Other findings about women in male-dominated trade occupations included:

• 17,710 are women (they represent 7.8 per cent of all apprentices)
• 42.5 per cent live in regional or remote locations (compared to 38.2 per cent of all apprentices)
• 6.5 per cent are First Nations people (compared to 6.2 per cent of all apprentices)
• 3.5 per cent are people with disability (compared to 3.4 per cent of all apprentices)
• 53.7 per cent are under the age of 25 (compared to 63 per cent of all apprentices).

The review identified key issues affecting women in male-dominated trades:

• Apprentices face cost-of-living pressures, and low training wages deter many, especially women starting later in life
• Employers often prefer younger apprentices due to lower wages, disproportionately affecting women
• Gendered assumptions deter young women from trades like plumbing and carpentry, while women in male-dominated trades often face challenges in a masculine work culture
• Poor working conditions lead to higher dropout rates among women apprentices (14 per cent vs 7 per cent for men) and more frequent bullying (46 per cent vs 24 per cent for men
• Lack of recognition for experience deters older apprentices, disproportionately affecting women.

Recommendations

Progress is being made, with almost 80 per cent more women training as apprentices in male-dominated trades, according to new data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), supported by initiatives such as the Building Women’s Careers Program.

Other recommendations from the review included:

• Address the behaviour of employers who are not providing an appropriate working environment for their apprentices.
• Utilise the Australian Government’s procurement policies to improve workplaces for women.
• Use existing apprentice data systems to better connect apprentices with support services.
• Work with industry stakeholders to address workplace culture issues and improve the working environment for apprentices.
• Create more opportunities for women to enter male-dominated trades.
• Develop ways to recognise previous experience and fast-track apprenticeships to make apprenticeships more appealing to those entering an apprenticeship later in life.

How we are supporting women – and their employers

The pathway for women in trades is characterised by 2022 Victorian Apprentice of the year Chhunly Taing, who completed a Certificate III in Civil Construction at the Holmesglen Institute and worked on infrastructure projects such as Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel.

Apprenticeships Support Australia is contracted by the Australian Government to support apprentices like Chhunly and their employers, with women in male-dominated-trades a key priority.

Recently, in Victoria, ASA linked with Gordon TAFE and North Melbourne Football Club on the Women Trading Up initiative, teaming up on a series of events designed to help attendees hear from inspiring speakers and leaders, gain industry contacts, and make lasting connections.

On 5 June 2025, join ASA for an exclusive free webinar to discover how hiring women in male-dominated trades can benefit business. 

Empowering Diversity: Hiring Women in Male-Dominated Trades will explore the benefits of diversity in trades, barriers for women – and how to overcome them, real-life success stories and other resources for employers.

This event will include a Q&A session, encouraging participants to share their experiences and challenges, and provide expert advice and solutions.

This a must-attend webinar to hear from leaders in their fields about workplace diversity and how it improves employment and business outcomes, while gaining industry contacts and connections.