Women Building Futures

Women Building Futures (WBF) is on a mission to create economic security for women. We are a social purpose organization supporting women through industry-recognized training in construction trades, maintenance, driving, operating, and more.

Our vision is to inspire positive economic and social change for women, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed, working multiple jobs and still unable to make ends meet. The goal is to increase women's earning potential and create economic resiliency by connecting them to career opportunities with starting pay above a living wage as well as opportunities to grow and develop.

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Saskatchewan’s growing economy brings with it opportunity for women to connect to in-demand employment. However, with unemployment rates returning to pre-COVID levels, employers are struggling to find the skilled workforce they need today. We also know that this labour gap will only increase in the future as more tradespeople retire. Unemployed and underemployed women are an untapped resource.  It is critical that we connect women to employment now and inform young women that there is career opportunity for them in the trades.

WBF brings over two decades of experience providing support to unemployed and underemployed women entering the trades and driving occupations through our established flow of wrap-around supports from pre-employment through to post-graduation employment. This flow has allowed us to maintain an over 90% completion rate, and lead to an average post-graduation starting wage income of 1.2x the living wage. Given this track record, WBF is well-positioned to support as the Saskatchewan economy reacts to emergent skilled worker demands.  

Through the work that WBF does, we not only solve the unemployment or underemployment of women, we also enable the diversification of workforces that are underrepresented by women.  The women that we serve through our programs are technically untapped resources that can also help address critical labor gaps.  These factors are priorities for our partners, and for the sustainability of the province of Saskatchewan. As such, our funding model is diversified. Historically, we have been about 60% government-funded and 40% through industry and private investment.

Together, WBF and our partners will provide women in the province with a life-changing opportunity for training that leads to employment while becoming part of a community that is there to support them and encourage their success. This partnership will strengthen the future workforce and the diversity and inclusion needs of Saskatchewan while meeting WBF’s mission of economic security for women. Women will gain the skills, experience, and confidence they need to enter and succeed in construction and maintenance trades and related occupations. 

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