CWB Foundation’s Women of Steel? impact report reveals success in skilled trades

Earlier this month, the CWB Foundation announced the release of the Women of Steel?: Forging Forward Impact Report. The report highlights the progress women have made in terms of employable skills, particularly in industries where they are historically underrepresented, such as welding. There continues to be a high demand for welding professionals. According to the 2023 National Labour Market Information Report from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, welding continues to be at risk, with only 4,088 Red Seal completions projected between 2023-2027, but 12,485 required to meet industry demand. Despite seeing an 8 per cent rise in female Red Seal completion rates between 2017 and 2022, according to Statistics Canada, there remains the opportunity to tap into a severely underrepresented group in the industry. Women currently comprise just 4.5 per cent of the skilled trades workforce, despite their immense potential to drive economic growth and innovation. To address this, the CWB Foundation launched the Women of Steel: Forging Forward project in 2022 as part of the broader Women of Steel initiative, which delivered pre-employment welding training to women and fostered workplace inclusivity across Canada. The program exceeded expectations and focused on breaking down barriers for women from diverse backgrounds, including racialized women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and women from the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Participants received hands-on pre-employment welding training, soft skills development, and comprehensive wrap-around support. The program also piloted a workplace inclusivity model to foster a more welcoming environment for women in trades, working closely with employers to improve access to employment and long-term retention. The CWB Foundation’s Women of Steel: Forging Forward initiative saw: 212 participants enrolled in 18 cohorts across Canada, surpassing the initial target of 180 participants 450 CWB tests administered, resulting in 620 welding qualifications issued, enhancing participants’ employability 77% of participants become employed or continue education in a welding-related field post-program