Are Female Electricians In Demand
Female electricians are in demand more than ever across the UK and at Renew Elec Training we have first hand experience as electricians who also happen to be females.
We can attest to the shortages across the country in all construction trades and the need to train more and more workers is growing. I was once at a meeting to address this shortfall and the point was made that if we had as many female as males tradespeople then we would hit our targets.
So let’s look at this in more detail.
National Demand - A Snapshot Of Skills Shortage
The skills shortage is a topic that is being highlighted in the press with the governments ambitious home building plans announced earlier this year.
Female or male the construction industry needs to grow and you could be the ideal candidate to train to be an electrician.
What Is The Skills Shortage In The Construction Industry?
At the time of writing this the job sector with the highest percentage of female employees is the field of Health and Social Care. with them topping out at 77% of the workforce. In the construction industry It was reported in 2024 that women currently make up 15% of the workforce. This includes all roles and is said to be likely to rise to 37% of all new construction workers being female.
This may seem like the problem of gendered roles is eradicated, until you dig into those stats and realise that 81% of females in construction are in senior management (often office-based roles) with just 1% being on the tools in skilled roles.
Why Women Matter To The Electrical Workforce
The built environment is designed for everyone to use, but the large majority of those who are working in construction are male.
The skills shortage in the UK can be attributed to several factors including; an ageing workforce, insufficient interest, lack of new talent, the affects of Brexit, and educational gaps. When I was in college as the only female apprentice I think I saw some of these areas first hand.
It was not unheard of to be driving home with another apprentice who was moaning about having to be an electrician because his dad was and he really wanted to follow another career path.
Colleges are similarly under increased pressure to accept lower and lower GCSE grades, but a common misconception in construction is that education is not important, whereas it really is key in trades like electrical.
Pathways Into The Construction Trade For Women
The route to be a fully qualified electrician can be split into two distinct pathways; apprenticeships and self-funded training. For women, obviously this is the same as for men.
Apprenticeships in construction can be very hard to come by, however larger companies have regular application dates and it is well worth logging onto the government apprenticeships portal to find any in your local area.
I remember one horrific job interview where as I walked in the interview panel said they wouldn’t be employing one of me - meaning a female, to fill their electrical apprentice role. Later in that same year, sadly they went into administration due to non-payment for a large contract. I was lucky enough to have secured my apprenticeship elsewhere by then but it was for a large company who had an HR department who were involved with the hiring process.
How To Become An Electrician Without An Apprenticeship
No apprenticeship, but over 19 years old, no problem. You can attend a private training provider and start your electrical career with a level 2 2365. Here you will learn about health and safety, basic scientific principles, installation works and some testing skills.
Your level two is just the start of your electrical career, but it will get you the qualification that you need to secure a job as an electrician’s mate or electrical improver on site.
If I am being honest your site experience is as important if not more than your teaching. As long as you are in a good learning environment and can ask plenty of questions then you will be fine. Your hand skills may take a little time to develop.
How Employers Can Attract And Retain Female Electricians
These are just a few of the ways that employers can easily work to attract mroe females into the construction industry.
We need to look at some ways to help the construction industry to grow and attracting more females could be the way forward.
1. Real Life Role Models Help Women Decide On A Career In Construction
As basic as it may sound employers can attract more women into construction by using real life role models, not actual models wearing plaid shirts and a hard hat from stock imagery.
Companies can link in with existing organisations like Women Installers Together to encourage more openness about the pro’s and con’s of working in the construction trade.
I am quite socially awkward and would never put myself forward as a role model for anyone but we have found that our TikTok channel has a higher than expected number of female followers. We have around 15% of our total followers and viewers as female at the time of writing.
2. Remove As Much Unconscious Bias From The Hiring Process
Anonymising job applications can help to remove any unconscious bias from the initial shortlisting process. It is also felt that having gender neutral job adverts will help to open up the application process.
Why not try having women on the hiring panel as well as other members from under represented groups? This may seem like a small gesture but by helping women to not feel ‘other’ from the interview onwards we can build a more inclusive environment.
3. Women Need Correctly Fitting PPE
Last week Sam and I were at a trade show for electricians and a very large manufacturer of site clothes was there. Apologising to us for not bringing female clothes but asking us if we would like to spend a significant amount of money on a larger male version.
PPE is not just about comfort but the ability to be able to move and perform your job safely. If you are the kind of employer who understands this then you are already miles ahead on equality and inclusion.
4. Include Female Toilets
I went to a college with a separate construction block away from the main college, but with no female toilets. Eventually I was given the key to the disabled toilet but nobody thought to mention that this was even available and I was too shy during my apprenticeship to ask.
On-site was a tougher situation with regards to the availability of female toilets. I feel it just takes a little bit of thought though as a lot of sites I assess on now have female toilets that are used as site storage.
5. Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible work arrangements will help all of your staff and not just females. At some point in most of my friends lives they have had childcare duties that would be easier if the occasional half day could be worked into the rota.
Flexible work arrangements are very much not a female specific subject and not one that is easily factored into a build when deadlines loom.
6. Educational Programmes
There is a very strong feeling that school-age girls will be most receptive to positive role models in teh educational field. In theory this would look like people like myself and Sam coming into school and taking a class of 11 year olds in a stem activity.
7. Mentorship
Having strong local advice to anyone who would like it in the electrical and wider construction industry is key. I do feel that this is important for both males and females, but perhaps initially women may feel teh benefits of this when looking to change career.
As a female electrician who also works in education I have been asked to support so many pink hard hat events I could scream. It does not encourage women into the trades please stop doing it!
What Might Put Women Off A Career In Construction
Tokenism and Girls Training
This may be personal but as a female electrician I find the tokenism hard to see when looking for jobs or courses. A real red flag would be any initiative that uses ‘jobs for the girls’ or any imagery with pink hard hats in.
Stock images of pristine models parading on site ignoring all health and safety best practice is a real career killer for any female looking into the construction industry. I also think the men I know who work on site find it a sure fire way to separate us for no reason.
2. Separating Women and Men
I wont name any specifically but when industries seem to almost apply equality and diversity to us this can be an issue. From female separated skills competitions to any area that tries to say girls can do it too, with nothing to back this up.
Repeating mantra’s from nineties girl bands wont help this generation of women into a career in construciton on the tools.
3. Women’s Issues On Site Are Men’s Issues Too
This ties in with separation in many ways but this article is aimed at helping women see careers in construction but how many of the issues raised here also affect men?
4. Stereotypes Of Construction Workers
The construction industry is beset with negative stereotypes that do not ring true to my experiences on site. I am not the only female electrician or even construction worker I know and while we all have examples of bad days in work, the overriding message is of support and friendships formed.
5. Thinking You Have To Be Super Strong
I know that when I started my apprenticeship I did have this in the back of my head. Once I got on site we used to use 110v transformers
Next Steps..
If you would like to talk to myself (Alex) or Sam about careers in the electrical industry please do fill in our contact form here. We have enjoyed our time on the tools and have plenty of advice for any women or men looking to change careers or upskill.
Have a look at our courses here to see if you would like to join us.