There are women who have the aptitude, the desire, and the need to work in the construction trades. They know that the construction industry pays well for both skilled and non-skilled labour. And the pay gap for women in construction is narrowing. Yet women make up only four percent of the onsite construction labour force. Women who get hired as construction workers face formidable challenges including harassment and social isolation. Just Working Construction is doing what it can to break down the barriers for women entering the construction trades. Two of its recent hires are young women. They each have a unique background and a compelling story. Both of them talk about how they found support, respect, and a sense of community at Just Working Construction.
Introducing two of Just Working Construction’s newest hires
Ingrid is petite and soft-spoken, but she is not shy. Her gritty determination comes through in the story she tells. She and her husband, both refugees, have an eight-year-old son still living in Mexico with his grandparents. The couple is working tirelessly to bring their son to Canada. They can hardly wait to be reunited with him. Ingrid and her husband Edgar were both hired a month ago as painters for Just Working Construction.
Joellah is just 18 years old, but she has the confidence of someone who knows what she wants. She has just secured a four-year contract as a carpenter apprentice with Just Working Construction. Joellah has carefully laid the groundwork for this apprenticeship, and she has a vision for the future. She talks with conviction about encouraging other young women to consider a career in the construction trades.
Ingrid: barriers and breakthroughs
For Ingrid, the barriers to employment in Canada were formidable. She was employed in a bank in Mexico, but she speaks little English. When they arrived in Canada, Ingrid applied for work at the multicultural centre but received no job offers. She and her husband also applied at a meat packing plant, but she did not pass the physical test for this heavy-lifting work. They were hoping to be employed together to support each other and conserve resources. Ingrid loves working out at the gym and was hoping for a job that involved physical labour. But she had no experience in the trades.
Ingrid and her husband Edgar connected with Just Working Construction through Jeff Van Gyssel’s in-laws. They had opened their home to Ingrid and Edgar through their church’s refugee program. Jeff offered Ingrid and her husband a two-month, renewable contract as painters on a temporary work permit. This contract has opened the way for them and their son to establish a new life in Canada.
Joellah: a track record of confidence
Joellah’s friends were surprised at her decision to become a carpenter apprentice. She did well academically, and they expected her to pursue further studies at university. However, Joellah chose a different path. She wanted to achieve financial independence before she continued her academic education. Her bold, independent approach earned her a healthy respect among her peers.
Her family is also supportive of her decision. She even reports having a better relationship with her uncles now that they can ‘talk shop.’ She says they like to borrow her tools and check out the new truck she purchased with her earnings.
Joellah had some carpentry experience through her high school co-op classes and placements. After high school, she applied to the Pre-apprenticeship General Carpenter program at Conestoga College. Her teachers at Conestoga appreciated her skill and work ethic. They suggested to her that she would make a good trades professor someday. She also enjoyed excellent relationships with her fellow students, all of them male except for one. They appreciated her skill and work ethic and easily accepted her as part of the group.
Physical challenges and performance barriers
Ingrid is acutely aware that she is smaller than her male coworkers. She finds the painting work physically tiring. She is working hard to increase her strength to keep up with the men. She quickly acquired the necessary painting skills, though she finds it challenging to work at heights.
Joellah admits that keeping up with the guys at Just Working Construction can be exhausting. This is especially true when she does demolition work. But she has a reputation as a hard worker. She has earned the nickname, ‘Mighty Mouse,’ from one of her site supervisors.
Joellah has the confidence to ask for help if she knows something will be too heavy to lift. For instance, she recently asked for help carrying an eight-by-four slab of drywall up a narrow stairway. She notes that not every guy can or wants to carry extremely heavy loads either. She advises other young women not to be afraid to ask for help when on a job site.
Courage in the workplace
Joellah says that, while her supervisors at Just Working are supportive, they expect a certain toughness from her. Their style is direct. That’s how things get done and they are not going to change that for her. One supervisor told her jokingly that she needed to grow a thicker skin. She is learning to do just that, and she is comfortable speaking up for herself.
Joellah notices that the people who respect her on the job don’t go easy on her. They are treating her like an equal, and she values that. She also notices that the day goes better when co-workers joke around a bit. She cautions that it’s important to maintain healthy boundaries when joking around. And she appreciates the good atmosphere on the Just Working job site.
Ingrid says she would encourage other women in the construction trades not to sell themselves short, thinking they can’t do something. She stresses the need to stay positive. And she is working hard to overcome the language barrier. In the meantime, there are several other Spanish speakers at Just Working Construction who can help explain things to her.
A caring environment
Joellah expresses appreciation for the sense of community that is being fostered at Just Working Construction. And she appreciates the diverse cultures and languages that characterize this community. She is thankful for the kindness of the people that work there. She sees it as a reflection of Jeff’s own approach to his life and his business.
Sometimes when she is tired near the end of the day, she reminds herself that the work she is doing will benefit someone else. This week, she is at The Working Centre, finishing apartments that will provide housing for single mothers. Her more permanent job site is in Hagersville, where her team is restoring a nineteenth-century First Nations council house. Being part of the Just Working crew means that she is contributing to the larger community.
Each of these new hires is courageous in her own way. Ingrid is quietly laser-focused on bringing her son to Canada. Joellah has thought carefully about her goals and how to achieve them and be financially independent. Both women are skilled at what they do, hard workers and quick learners. Both have been given a life-changing opportunity by Just Working Construction. This month, a third young woman, a co-op student from a local high school, will be joining the team for a work placement. Maybe her experience working for this caring company will break down a few invisible barriers in her own path.
The construction industry will be facing increasing labour shortages in the future. Companies need to address attitudes and behaviours that discourage women from enjoying successful careers in the construction trades. And this is done best in a caring, community-minded environment where hard work and respect for others are valued.