Over 70 per cent of male electricians feel that ‘old school attitudes’ towards women still exist in the industry, according to a new survey.
The survey, conducted by leading electrical industry body, NICEIC, also found that three quarters of the male electricians interviewed, would be happy for their daughters to take up a career in the trade. Nine out of ten thought that it was their responsibility to advise their daughters on career decisions.
Of those surveyed, just under half will be looking to retire within the next decade. To plug this shortage, NICEIC are calling for more to be done to encourage women into the industry. To combat this, NICEIC have created the Jobs for the Girls campaign, which actively encourages more women into the industry.
Emma Clancy, CEO of NICEIC said, “Dads have an important role to play in shaping the career choices of their daughters – particularly in the trades sector where many children follow in their father’s footsteps.”
“So it is highly encouraging to see that up to 75% of contractors would be happy to see their daughters become an electrician.”
“Since launching our Jobs for the Girls campaign in 2011 we are seeing a growing interest in women wanting to take up a trade. However, the numbers are still painfully low so it is interesting to note that many men feel certain attitudes from another era still exist today.”
“That is something we all have a duty to eradicate. I would encourage dads who do come across such attitudes to take a stand and think about how they might feel if it was their daughter working in the industry.”
“With Father’s Day just around the corner maybe it is an opportunity for dads who work as an electrician or in the trades generally to ask their daughters what they think about their job and if it is something that would interest them in the future.”
The report also found that only one in five girls had received any trade careers advice from their school or other educational institution. Clancy believes that ‘schools also have a role to play’, saying, “What we have found is that women who do become electricians often do so later on in life. We believe that more can be done between the ages of 7-15 in schools to ensure taking up a trade is taught as an equal opportunity for both boys and girls. Young girls are often not informed or are actively discouraged from taking up a trade at a key point in their life.”
