The NSW Government has announced it will support 3,000 training places for women in trades to help boost female representation in construction, manufacturing, engineering, transport and logistics.

The fee-free Built For Women training program will target women aged 16 to 24, female jobseekers, women at risk of unemployment and women in receipt of Commonwealth benefits.

Women currently represent 8.9 per cent of all current learners in trades and just 2.1 per cent of all learners studying a trade in the building and construction industry.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the program would help boost numbers of women working on building sites.

“The Built For Women program is about attracting women to rewarding careers in trades industries that are experiencing skills shortages,” Mr Lee said.

“There has never been a better time to reskill or up-skill and take advantage of the employment opportunities arising from the NSW Government’s record $107 billion infrastructure investment, which is creating hundreds of jobs.”

“Growing housing developments, new road and infrastructure upgrades as well as the new Western Sydney airport are creating skills demands in manufacturing, engineering and transport and logistics, providing an opportunity for women to increase their skills and participation in the industry.”

There are 154 full-qualifications and 408 part-qualifications available in construction under JobTrainer.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the Built For Women program would help close the gender gap present in the trades industry.

“The NSW Government is committed to increasing the number of women working in non-traditional trades,” Mrs Taylor said.

“Whether you’re a female school leaver looking to pursue a career as an engineer or a woman looking to retrain as a construction worker – now is the perfect time to train and get started in the industry.”

For more information visit the Built for Women webpage or call 13 28 11.