Tradesman or tradesperson? What’s the best term to use?

What is a trade?

As you no doubt already know, a trader is a specific type of job that requires a certain level of skills and training. Some common trades include:

• Electrician
• Plumber
• Bricklayer
• Plasterer
• Painter & decorator

All these jobs are viewed as trades because they require a good level of competency which you must achieve by completing a training course and gaining relevant certification.

Tradespeople are qualified in what they do. In contrast unskilled workers such as labourers and delivery drivers do not require specific skills or associated accreditations.

Tradesman vs tradesperson

Historically, most trade jobs were done by men. Tradeswomen were very rare, particularly in areas such as construction that involved a high level of heavy manual work.

Today, thankfully, this is beginning to change. More women are becoming qualified across the trade sector. Particularly in high skilled high paying trades such as electricians and plumbers.

There is still a long way to go to reach equality, however, across the whole trade industry. On the flip side, the term tradesman is looking ever more outdated.

Today, it is far more inclusive to use the term tradesperson. As a non-gender specific term, it leaves the role open for both men and women and also allows further integration between different social classes and abilities.

Tackling the UK gender pay gap

The UK construction industry is worth over £110 billion per year and contributes 7% of GDP. It is around one quarter public sector and three quarters private sector.

Approximately 60% of construction projects are new-build and 40% are renovation projects.

Addressing the imbalance

Unfortunately, only 13% of the construction sector’s workforce are women and many of these receive a lower salary than their male counterparts.

According to recent statistics, the construction industry’s gender pay gap is still one of the largest in the UK.

A 2022 survey found that men in the construction industry are paid on average 20% more than women for doing the same job.

There is an imbalance. And it needs to be addressed and fixed.

Challenges facing female construction workers

As mentioned above, the construction sector is a traditionally male-dominated industry.

It can be a difficult environment for women. Some common problems facing women in construction include:

• Discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Pay inequality
• Poor facilities and resources
• Lack of opportunity
• Social stigma

It seems like a huge change in attitude is needed to address these problems. Is it possible that by using a gender-neutral title like tradesperson instead of tradesman, that the construction sector can become more inclusive?

Why should women pursue a career as a tradesperson?

The UK construction industry has a huge shortage of skilled workers. Across both the commercial and domestic sectors, skilled workers are in increasingly high demand.

At the moment, the UK government looks unlikely to meet its target of building 300,000 new homes per year by the mid-2020s.

There are, however, some positives to take from this situation. Many industry bodies are currently in talks with the government to invest in training and apprenticeship programmes.

• New construction company bosses are also more likely to embrace diversity in the workplace
• Although women working in construction are still a large minority, things are changing

More female tradespeople are now retraining in construction than ever before and the term tradesman is looking increasingly outdated.

How can we achieve equal opportunities in the trade industry?

The Equality Act 2010 is designed to protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace.

It is illegal to discriminate on grounds of:

• Ethnicity
• Age
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Nationality
• Gender

Laws are also in place to protect workers who are pregnant or on maternity leave.

As mentioned earlier, the latest generation of senior management are far more accepting of workplace diversity. Equal opportunities are now an integral part of the future of the UK workplace.

This drive towards equality will be beneficial for the entire sector.

By incorporating diversity and inclusion, the construction industry will be able to tackle the skills shortage head on.

Opportunities for tradespeople of any gender

The construction industry is full of diverse opportunities. From administrative and managerial roles to skilled and semi-skilled construction and engineering positions, the industry has something for everyone.

As technology continues to develop, more opportunities to work as a skilled tradesperson arise.

• High-tech building (such as Building Information Modelling software, robotic engineering, drone surveying and 3D printing)
• Green technology is also attracting a more diverse workforce
• Highly skilled jobs across the green energy sector offering excellent levels of pay for skilled and qualified tradespeople

There are new and exciting roles as a tradesperson with many opportunities to upskill and diversify.

And, at Checkatrade, we are ready to promote an industry that promotes inclusivity.

Join Checkatrade as an approved tradesperson

At Checkatrade, we are fully committed to promoting an equal and fully inclusive workplace. Whatever trade you specialise in, we want to normalise the use of tradesperson and never use the outdated term tradesman.

Whether you’re a plumber, a carpenter, or an electrician, the Checkatrade database does not discriminate in any way at all.

All Checkatrade tradespeople get access to the same professional support and services.

There are a number of reasons to consider joining:

• More job enquiries
• Discounts through our partners on essentials like tools and materials
• Access to branded marketing materials
• Online profile optimised for searches
• Access to a dedicated member’s app
• Use of our time-saving quoting & invoicing tool

We want to help you on your journey as a fully vetted and approved tradesperson.

So, whether you’re a woman or a man who’s interested in a career in construction, joining Checkatrade is a great way to get your career started.