Breaking into the trades was no easy task for Rachel Hilling, but she saw it through with her unwavering determination to find employment in a sector that would allow her to provide for her family. With her willingness to ascend in a career with a long-term trajectory, she met with her father’s neighbor, Rich, and asked him for advice about entering the trades.
Recalling this pivotal and life-changing meeting, Hilling says she asked Rich which trade would be most suitable for a woman.
“He should have said electrician because it’s a much cleaner job,” she recalls.
At the time, Rich needed an HVAC technician and agreed to train Hilling on the ins and outs of the industry.
In no time, Rachel Hilling was installing heating and cooling systems in homes, but she didn’t stop there. She was determined to help others – women, minorities and people with disabilities break into the trades. After all, the trades in Canada need more people, and by supporting a diverse workforce, both the industry and individuals can benefit synergistically.
Maclean’s shared that more women than ever are needed in the trades. There aren’t enough skilled workers in Canada, and attracting more women to these jobs will go a long way in promoting a better economy with better infrastructure to support it.
The truth is that women like Rachel Hilling are part of a small group. In 2016, a study by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum found that only 14.2 percent of registered tradespeople were women, drawing on data dating back to 2012. The majority of these women also worked in the service industry rather than in male-dominated fields like manufacturing and construction.
“It’s gotten a lot better over the years, but more improvements need to be made,” says Hilling.
The gender disparity is only exemplified when looking at trades regulated by the Red Seal Program, which sets national standards for certain trades. Under this program, professionals can work across Canadian provinces. Unfortunately, however, in trades such as automotive repair, electrical work and carpentry, women make up less than 5 percent of the workforce.
This underrepresentation is even more pronounced for women of color: nearly half of Red Seal trades report zero visible minority women, while the rest show only a 1-12% presence.
It’s these disparities that Rachel Hilling is determined to change, which is why she is championing EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in the trades wherever she can. Through her own personal website, she shares her experiences and resources for people who want to get involved in the trades. In addition, she tirelessly pursues volunteer and community-based work.
“I do volunteer work with Redwood, which is a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse. These groups of women have faced domestic violence in the past, and the program seeks to put them through the gas fitter program at HiMark College.”
For Hilling, championing EDI is about so much more than being vocal. It’s about doing concrete things to make a difference and putting in the time where it counts. Even if you’re changing one life at a time, it has a ripple effect because everybody you help can serve as a role model for another person down the line.
Thinking back to when she first started in the industry, Rachel Hilling says, “I was divorced with two really small children and I needed to find a job and a career.”
“I want people to understand that anybody, not having any technical background, not having any experience or contacts, can make it.”
“There’s going to be bumps in the road, but if you’re willing to work hard, it will result in a great career.”
