More female tradies are key to building the future
Charlotte Ancell had done everything expected of her.
She attended a prestigious girls’ school after her parents came together to finance her enrollment. He studied hard, finished with good grades, and went to college, following a stereotypical path to a professional career.
But something wasn’t right.
“I don’t know where it came from, but I remember crying about my future, not knowing what to do, calling my mother and saying, ‘I just want to be a tradesman!’ I remember shouting. Ms Ancell, 23, told AAP:
With no one in her family or immediate circle working in a profession, Ms. Ancell had to fight hard to readjust the course of her career.
“My school had a very narrow view of what success was. It was a very academic environment,” he said.
“They laughed at the word TAFE; if you said you might want to go to TAFE people would make fun of you because university was actually the only path that was encouraged.”
This was definitely not something he thought about growing up.
But she had always been interested in hands-on work and knew she didn’t want to work in an office, so once it became clear Ms Ancell put down her degree and started applying for apprenticeships.
However, entering the industry was not easy.
“I applied for about a year and was rejected over and over because I had no experience,” he said.
In the end, a skill and aptitude test resulted in an interview and apprenticeship with the builders and installation experts that Rintoul followed.
Now in her third year of a Certificate III in shopfitting through TAFE NSW, Ms Ancell is working on major construction projects and thriving in a field she once never dreamed of entering.
His story reflects a broader shift taking place in the industry.
Data from the National Vocational Training Research Center shows the number of women enrolling in building trades courses in NSW has more than doubled in the five years to 2025.
The figures come as the industry celebrates Women in Construction Week from 1 to 7 March, ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March.
Despite rising numbers, the construction industry remains heavily male-dominated and Ms Ancell said breaking into the industry could still be daunting.
“It’s always a concern knowing that you’re going to be the minority in every room,” he said.
“But it’s definitely daunting and incredibly rewarding.”
He said the experience helped boost his confidence.
“My self-confidence has increased exponentially,” he said.
Ms Ancell said her supportive colleagues and teachers played a key role in helping her settle into the industry.
“Teachers at TAFE are incredibly supportive of women,” she said.
Managing director of education and training in construction and energy at TAFE NSW, Jennifer Perkins, herself a qualified electrician, said increasing female participation was essential to meet workforce demand.
“TAFE NSW trains the majority of women entering construction-based jobs in Sydney and increasing women’s participation is not only important but essential to meet industry demand and grow the workforce,” she said.
“Having more women on the job site strengthens teams, increases productivity and supports the long-term future of the industry.”
NSW Skills and TAFE Minister Steve Whan said encouraging more women into trades would help address the workforce shortage.
“The construction industry needs more skilled workers and supporting more women to enter, train and develop in the industry is critical to meeting this demand,” he said.
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