Thursday, November 12, 2026

We Asked Women in Construction What Matters Most. Here’s What They Told Us.

CLAC surveyed our members who are women working in construction across Canada to better understand their experiences and what matters most to them in the workplace. We asked about everything from how supported they feel at work, to their experiences with CLAC compared to other union and non-union workplaces, to how CLAC can better support them moving forward.

The women surveyed identified three key workplace priorities:

Leadership development (41.5 percent)
Access to women-specific PPE (33.1 percent)
Mentorship opportunities (22.9 percent)

What Members Appreciate and Where We Can Improve

We wanted to hear how women feel about their experiences working in CLAC-represented workplaces, including how those experiences compare with previous union and non-union workplaces.

Many members shared positive experiences with CLAC representatives and the support they’ve received throughout their careers.

Here are two direct quotes from members:

“CLAC reps are amazing at answering calls, questions and supporting the workers.”
“(CLAC) seems more interested in bringing women in and keeping them.”

However, respondents also identified areas where further progress is needed. Many emphasized the importance of having their concerns heard and taken seriously, as well as receiving ongoing support throughout their careers. Others highlighted a desire to feel more valued and included in the workplace and called for greater employer involvement in fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

This feedback is valuable to us. It helps us recognize what’s working while identifying where we can continue to improve.

Where Does SWIC Go from Here?

We are doing a lot doing of work behind the scenes to help shape the next phase of CLAC’s Supporting Women in Construction (SWIC) initiative. Our focus is on finding meaningful ways to support our members throughout their careers, while creating opportunities to learn, connect and grow.

Here's what we're exploring:

Better access to women’s PPE. We are working toward a partnership with Mark's that could offer CLAC’s women members access to discounted PPE and workwear designed for women.
Webinars and podcast-style discussions. We are developing a series featuring topics our members have expressed interest in, including leadership, career advancement, workplace confidence, self-advocacy and women's PPE.
Mentorship and connections. We are continuing to build opportunities for women to learn from experienced tradeswomen, share advice, and connect with others in the industry.

We’re excited about these opportunities and look forward to sharing more as they develop.

We Asked Women in Construction What Matters Most. Here’s What They Told Us.

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