The role of women in the workforce has changed significantly in the last several decades, for the better. As countries around the world move towards relying on clean energy, a wealth of opportunities are opening up in a variety of future-focused fields like the energy sector. All doors are open for those in looking to sharpen their skills in an electrifying industry that offers continuous learning, innovation and career advancement.
Over the next decade, the trades sector is expected to lose nearly 250,000 people to retirement. Companies are looking to replenish the workforce with the next generation of skilled workers across industries, with many realizing that attracting and retaining a diverse workforce — including women — needs to be top of mind.
Opportunities at every turn
Bruce Power encourages women to consider opportunities in the trades. Bruce Power is Canada’s only private-sector nuclear generator, located in Bruce County, ON. With 4,200 permanent workers and hundreds of local contractors, the site has been the largest source of trades work in the province of Ontario in the past decade, and its growing. The company’s new Life-Extension Program is expecting to employ nearly 2,000 skilled trade workers per year for at least 13 years, injecting billions of dollars into Ontario’s economy.
Recently, the company has signed many contracts to provide the province with low-cost, carbon-free electricity into 2064. This growth presents exciting opportunities for women looking to dive into the trade workforce and build a lasting and rewarding career. With a focus on building community inside and outside of the site and its favourable location in a small town, the company has become home to a strong core of tradeswomen.
Giving back to the community and the world
The company is an active member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and invests in key community, educational, environmental and youth development initiatives. Unique in the industry, it is also a key supporter of Women in Nuclear (WiN), a global organization dedicated to supporting and empowering women in nuclear and radiation-related sectors.
The organization positively impacts millions of people around the world through its work in the health care sector. In fact, Bruce Power supplies the medical isotopes used to sterilize 40% of the world’s single-use medical devices and equipment, including sutures, syringes and surgical masks that help in the detection and treatment of cancer.
As Bruce Power continues to expand and grow in Canada, it’s looking to continue to build and develop a female workforce that will truly impact the nation’s future. For young people especially, the organization offers a ripe opportunity for women to leave a lasting impact on their world and the future.
