TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Young workers can benefit by breaking stereotypes, writes Lauren Ahwan
DECISIONS regarding post-school training are still being made along gender lines, with girls opting for university and boys pursuing vocational education.
While some experts are disappointed by the apparent confines of tradition, Australian National University researcher Andrew Norton says that, for those who receive low ATARs, there is an “underlying economic rationale” to the choices being made.
“When you look at men, there are vocational occupations out there that require heavy labour and being outside but they actually pay quite well,” says Norton, a professor in the practice of higher education policy.
“But for women with a lowATAR, the options at a vocational level are often early childhood or aged care – and they don’t pay nearly as well (compared with maledominated vocational careers).
“You could earn a lot more going to university and becoming a nurse than you could becoming an aged care worker or an early childhood worker so, for women, university is the more lucrative choice.”
A study by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, conducted before the coronavirus pandemic hit but only recently released, found more women than men are studying at university while more men than women are in vocational education and training.
The data revealed more young men than women are in full-time work, but also that men are more likely than women not to be in the labour force.
Norton says the seeming contradiction can be explained by the proportion of women unable to work full time because of family responsibilities and the higher number of men who are at the “extreme dysfunction end of education’’ who cannot access even entry-level roles.
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research research fellow Dr Jan Kabatek says the NCVER findings confirm the “quite stereotypical” career choices of many men and women.
“I would love to see different patterns that are more gender balanced but it does play into the usual narrative of how tasks are divided by men and women,” he says.
Kabatek says his own research, conducted post-pandemic, shows clear gender differences among those who are upskilling – with men most likely to do so to keep their current role while women upskill to find new work.
Katharine Knapman is bucking the trend by undertaking an arboriculture traineeship with WPC Group.
Knapman, who is obtaining a certificate III in arboriculture while working with McLeod Trees, was recognised earlier this year at the Victorian Apprenticeship Awards, where she was named Trainee of the Year and won the International Apprentice Scholarship and Women in Trades Inspirations awards.
She hopes her achievements will highlight the contribution women can make to the vocational sector.
“It would be really cool to see some more women start trades and be part of the industry,” she says.