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"Many companies would like to see more women in the skilled trades." Rosemarie Ehrlich, board member of the Münster Chamber of Skilled Crafts (Photo: © Teamfoto Marquardt)

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Women contribute to the success of the craft industry

women in crafts - Theme specials

March 2022

Rosemarie Ehrlich, board member of the Münster Chamber of Crafts, calls for a rethink in society to encourage more female apprentices.

This article is part of the special topic women in crafts

"Women play a key role in the success of the skilled trades." This was emphasized by Rosemarie Ehrlich, board member of the Münster Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK), on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8. Female entrepreneurs, master craftsmen, managers, journeymen, and apprentices find diverse career paths and prospects in the skilled trades industry, especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers. Ehrlich stated: "Many companies would like to see more women in the skilled trades."

Women are also key players in a variety of positions in the Münster Chamber of Commerce district. Around 30 percent of all new businesses in the skilled trades were founded by women in 2021. One in four of all businesses is managed by a woman as owner, general partner, or limited partner. In the skilled trades sector, approximately 75 percent of businesses are family businesses, where the female partner works jointly with the male partner at the helm. Ehrlich encourages female entrepreneurs to become more involved in the skilled trades organization and to help shape the self-governance of the skilled trades.

Goal: More young women in training

The proportion of women in newly concluded apprenticeships in Münsterland and the Emscher-Lippe region is 14 percent. The skilled trades offer more than 130 apprenticeships; however, women remain largely underrepresented in industrial and technical occupations. Creative and commercial professions are high on the popularity scale. Hairdressing tops the list. Ten trades have exclusively female apprentices, primarily beauticians and seamstresses.

The gender balance continues in continuing education: 12 percent of all master craftsman examinations and 17 percent of all advanced training examinations at the Dortmund Chamber of Crafts are taken by women. "The goal of the skilled trades is to attract even more young women to train in one of the diverse skilled trades," Ehrlich wants to encourage. This requires a broad change in thinking among parents, teachers, and society in general. With increasing digitalization, the physical demands of these professions are decreasing. At the same time, the need for creative, communicative, and design skills is growing. By strengthening STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in schools, Ehrlich suggests, interest in technical careers can be further stimulated. Internships also contribute significantly to this.