Toronto, ON – It’s no secret that employers of skilled trades workers are struggling to find the workforce required to complete their projects, resulting in delays and millions of dollars in lost revenue. Ontario’s Pay Equity Office suggests that widening the talent pool by including more women in skilled trades is a key solution address the labour demand.
Though there is high labour demand across several industries in the skilled trades, women’s participation is lacking. Women only make up 5% of all tradespeople employed in Ontario’s construction industry, according to a 2025 BuildForce Canada report.
In a recent op-ed, Ontario’s Pay Equity Office, reinforces the need for policies like the Pay Equity Act, and those included in the Working for Workers Acts, that correct issues created by outdated policies from the turn of the 20th century. Ontario’s Pay Equity Office strongly encourages employers to reconsider century-old practices if they do not want to lose out on viable workers and profits.
The Pay Equity Office has looked closely at the complex and various issues preventing women from succeeding in skilled trades. While some can be addressed by government intervention, others can be supported by employers who are anxious to meet their labour demand and expand their approaches to hiring.
The Pay Equity Office provides five suggestions, based on research and observations, to help address employers’ labour shortages by supporting women’s career trajectories in the skilled trades.
- Build a respectful, safe workplace.
- Ensure fair compensation. To start the journey to pay equity, the Ontario Pay Equity Office invites employers to visit the Pay Equity Solution for Small Business Do-It-Yourself Toolkit.
- Communicate inclusive values in job postings. Employers can utilize the Ontario Pay Equity Office’s Gender Neutral Job Ads resource to craft inclusive job postings.
- Showcase clear pathways to leadership.
- Address childcare barriers and offer supports.
Read the full actionable suggestions and their reasoning in the op-ed, Women and Skilled Trades: What’s the Trade-Off?
To schedule an interview with Commissioner Philp, please contact: Alanna Sleep, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Pay Equity Office, [email protected].
Visit https://payequity.gov.on.ca/what-we-do/ for more information about the Pay Equity Office.