Blog: VET Gives Workers The Skills To Smash Through Stereotypes
Written by Cara Jenkin
Skills shortages can reduce and workers can lead more fulfilling lives if more people think outside of traditional gender stereotypes when it comes to the ideal worker.
It is not just the workers considering these careers who should disregard the gender stereotypes but also employers, customers and co-workers, who can play just as important a role in the success people can have in their careers as the worker themselves.
Jobs and Skills Australia commissioner Professor Barney Glover says one of the reasons for the underlying skills shortage in Australia’s labour market is gender skewing in the workforce.
In a National Press Club address held ahead of the 2024 National Skills Week, he said overcoming gender stereotypes would have flow-on effects in encouraging other underrepresented sections of the workforce to consider careers in these areas.
“Male and female-dominated occupations are in much higher levels of shortage in part due to stereotypical attitudes to types of work, safety and the culture of workplaces and work sites,” he said.
“These drivers also limit the labour market opportunities for other diverse workers who look, sound or physically are different.”
Jobs and Skills Australia analysis finds women make up less than 20% of the total workforce in more than half of occupations in national shortage.
These include metal fitters and machinists (1% female workforce); motor mechanics (2%); electricians (2%); mining engineers (14%); construction managers (14%); and software and applications programmers (19%).
However, 14% of female-dominated occupations are also in shortage, such as early childhood teachers (2% male workforce); child carers (3%); and registered nurses (12%).
The JSA analysis also shows that shortages are less common in occupations that do not have a large workforce gender imbalance.
These include solicitors (54% female workforce); accountants (54% female workforce); sales and marketing managers (58% male workforce); and café and restaurant managers (54% female workforce).
Irshad Haidari, 27, is one man forging a career in a female-dominated industry who is encouraging other men to follow in his footsteps.
The support worker for disability service provider Irshad is employed in, is in an industry that is expected to have a shortage of 139,300 workers (full-time equivalent) by 2050, JSA reports.
While the number of men employed as personal care and support workers has increased by 67% between 2015 and 2021 – outpacing the 40% growth for women – currently 79% of employees are women.
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Irshad was no stranger to vocational education and training when he was considering a career change to a role that better suited his personality and came with better work hours.
“I used to work as a baker and I wanted some change in my lifestyle,” he says.
“I was searching on Google and asking some of my friends what should I do, and then I ended up searching for a traineeship.
“I have friends with disabilities and they always wish they could get some support from somewhere, that they can pursue their career as well and they could live a normal life.
“So I had a soft corner for people with disabilities and as soon as I got into this industry, I felt like this is the industry I’m looking for, this is what where my passion lies, in caring and looking after people and advocating for them.”
Irshad was midway through his traineeship, which included obtaining a Certificate III in Individual Support, when he was offered his job.
Irshad admits some guardians of the people he provides support to have had some qualms about his gender and have taken time to trust him.
“Their guardians were hesitant to have male workers… it used to be female-only support (and) they preferred the female staff over the male staff,” he says.
“At first I used to have problems getting shifts.
“I know women have got this loving and caring nature and I was there to prove that young men have got the same nature as well.
“I’m here to prove men can be as good as women.”
Irshad has upskilled through VET with a Diploma of Community Services and plans to continue the pathway to study a Bachelor of Community Services.
He says discovering the VET course and traineeship has been life changing.
“From doing a VET course, my certificate III, I got a good job with better pay than the baker role and I got married first thing and I bought a house for myself,” he says.
“I’m financially stable, I’ve travelled a lot and I’m really happy with the outcome.
“I don’t know if I could have done this all as a baker.”
So far Irshad has successfully convinced many other men, including his brother who used to work as a butcher, to pursue a career in the industry, as well as other women.
“There were plenty of opportunities for me and I’m really happy with my current position,” he says.
“If someone is looking for a change in their profession, I would definitely encourage them to go to and do a VET course – not only in this industry, but any industry that they want to.”
The Shared vision, equal pathways report by the Australian Government’s inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training reveals women are under-represented in many vocational education and training pathways.
While women make up 30.9% of all apprentices and trainees, only 5.2% of electrical apprentices are female, 2.5% of bricklaying, carpentry and joining apprentices are female, and only 1.6% of plumbing apprentices are female.
In the automotive electrician occupation, 82.5% of workers are men. However, Sophie Orrock, 18, always knew she wanted to be a mechanic and is in her second year of an automotive electrician apprenticeship at Tatiara Truck and Trailers.
“I grew up on a farm so I’ve always worked on heavy machinery and I wanted to be a heavy diesel mechanic at the start,” she says.
“I like the labour of the job and the problem-solving aspects.
“It’s actually quite fun sitting there and tinkering around with it and I love actually looking on the inside of how the machine works, how the gears change and all of that.”
Sophie moved 600km from her home to start her apprenticeship after completing work experience at the business and has not regretted her decision.
“I work with a mentor every day and he shows me all of the skills I need to know,” she says.
“Then I do trade school once a month… I learn the core subjects and then I can bring it back to work, they can give me jobs around what I’m learning or what I’ve learned so I can put my knowledge into action.”
She completed work experience at several employers before finding a home with her current employer, and says not all of the previous workplaces she encountered, embraced a female in the environment.
However, she stresses not all workplaces are the same and encourages workers to find the right type of workplace for them.
Sophie says she has found family-run businesses offer a welcoming environment and is one of two female apprentices currently in her employer’s workshop.
Many large firms, such as Komatsu where 49% of apprentices employed this year are female, are also embracing gender balance in their workforces.
Sophie says vocational education and training also suits her learning style.
“I think the game changer for me is being able to actually do hands-on physical labour – I can’t sit still for long enough to be in an office,” she says.
“I love the fact that you’re able to not just see (what you’re learning) on a picture, but actually see it in person, get the gist of how it actually operates and you’re able to do the work.
“And being able to work, earn while you learn, is a big thing.”
TO DISCOVER AN APPRENTICESHIP OR TRAINEESHIP PATHWAY, VISIT APPRENTICESHIPS.GOV.AU
Cara Jenkin is a freelance journalist with more than 20 years’ experience working in the print, digital and television media. It included 10 years as the editor of NewsCorp’s Careers employment section, covering topics ranging from education and training to workplace career advice.