New workforce data is pointing to a significant shift in the Northern Rivers construction sector, with women playing an increasingly visible and practical role in delivering homes, infrastructure and commercial projects across the region.
Figures released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in the lead up to Women in Construction Week show that female enrolments in construction trade courses across New South Wales more than doubled in the five years to 2025. While much of the public focus tends to centre on metropolitan markets such as Sydney, the impact of this change is being felt just as strongly in regional communities.
In the Tweed region, women now make up 12 per cent of the construction workforce. Among them is Hayley Miles, a qualified carpenter, TAFE NSW Kingscliff graduate and Murwillumbah local who has built a second career in a sector long dominated by men.
At 41, Miles represents a growing cohort of career changers entering the trades later in life, challenging assumptions about age, gender and opportunity within the industry.
A Mid Life Career Pivot
For more than a decade, Hayley Miles worked as a hairdresser. Woodwork, however, had always been part of her life.
“I come from a family of tradies, so choosing to become a carpenter was never that surprising,” she said.
What was surprising was the timing. Changing careers mid life, and stepping into a male dominated trade, required conviction and resilience.
“Changing careers mid life to work in a male dominated industry was challenging, but I’m pleased I did it,” she said.
Miles enrolled at TAFE NSW Kingscliff to complete her carpentry qualification. Since graduating, she has launched her own business, Hells Bells Carpentry, and recently secured a full time role with Tweed Rivers Timbers.
Her experience reflects both the expanding opportunities in regional construction and the increasing confidence of women entering practical trades.
“I’m proof there’s no gender or age barrier to becoming a tradie. By working hard and being assertive, your skills and reputation can take you anywhere,” she said.
A Regional Workforce Under Pressure
The Northern Rivers region has experienced sustained construction demand in recent years. Housing supply pressures, infrastructure upgrades and post flood rebuilding efforts have combined to create ongoing workforce requirements.
Regional builders frequently cite labour availability as one of their biggest operational constraints. Skilled carpenters, in particular, remain in high demand across residential and light commercial projects.
Increasing female participation is therefore not just a cultural milestone. It is a practical workforce solution.
TAFE NSW Executive Director of Teaching and Learning in Construction and Energy, Jennifer Perkins, said regional training providers are central to supporting this shift.
“TAFE NSW is training the majority of women entering construction based trades in the Northern Rivers, and increasing female participation is not just important, it is essential to meeting industry demand and growing the workforce,” she said.
Perkins, herself a qualified electrician, emphasised that greater diversity strengthens site culture and improves productivity outcomes.
“More women on worksites strengthens teams, boosts productivity and supports the long term future of the industry,” she said.
The Numbers Behind the Shift
The doubling of female enrolments in construction trades across NSW over five years is part of a broader transformation in vocational education patterns.
Construction has historically struggled to attract women into hands on roles. While female representation in architecture, design and project coordination has grown steadily, trade participation has remained comparatively low.
The latest figures indicate that perception barriers are beginning to soften. Women are increasingly considering carpentry, electrical, plumbing, shopfitting and related trades as viable, stable and financially rewarding career options.
In regional areas such as the Northern Rivers, this shift is particularly significant. Smaller labour pools mean that every additional qualified tradesperson makes a measurable difference to project capacity.
The Tweed region’s 12 per cent female workforce participation in construction may still represent a minority share, but it marks clear progress from previous decades.
Changing Perceptions of Trade Careers
Career transitions like Miles’ highlight another emerging trend within the industry: mature age apprenticeships and mid career retraining.
Construction is no longer viewed solely as a school leaver pathway. Increasing numbers of adults are entering the sector seeking stability, autonomy and hands on work.
For some, this follows disruption in other industries. For others, it reflects a desire to work more tangibly and independently.
Miles’ decision to start her own business alongside her employment demonstrates the entrepreneurial potential within trade qualifications. Carpentry skills can translate into residential construction, renovations, commercial fit outs and custom timber work.
This flexibility is part of the appeal.
Regional training providers report that women entering trades often bring strong communication skills, customer focus and organisational capability developed in previous careers. These attributes can complement technical proficiency and strengthen client relationships.
Industry Culture and Retention
While enrolment numbers are rising, industry leaders acknowledge that retention remains critical.
Supportive site environments, visible role models and fair employment practices are key to ensuring that female apprentices and qualified tradespeople remain in the sector long term.
Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day provide opportunities to spotlight positive examples and normalise diverse representation on site.
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, said increasing female participation is fundamental to building a resilient, future ready workforce.
“The construction industry needs more skilled workers, and supporting more women to enter, train and thrive in the sector is critical to meeting that demand,” he said.
“TAFE NSW is supporting more women to train and succeed in trade based jobs, proving that gender should not be a barrier to pursuing a rewarding, hands on career.”
A Broader Workforce Strategy
For the Northern Rivers, the implications are practical and immediate. Housing delivery targets, commercial expansions and infrastructure upgrades require sustained labour supply.
Local employers such as Tweed Rivers Timbers are directly benefiting from an expanded talent pool.
At a policy level, the data reinforces the importance of regional training infrastructure. Access to high quality vocational education through campuses such as TAFE NSW Kingscliff plays a central role in developing local capacity.
When residents can train locally and work locally, regional economies strengthen.
For Miles, the transition into carpentry has delivered professional satisfaction and stability.
Her story also offers a broader message to others considering similar pathways.
“There’s no gender or age barrier,” she said. “If you put the work in, the industry will respond.”
The Future of Construction in the Northern Rivers
As the region continues to rebuild, expand and modernise, the composition of its workforce is evolving alongside it.
Female participation remains a minority, but it is growing steadily. Each new apprentice, each qualified tradesperson and each business owner contributes to reshaping industry norms.
The data suggests that what was once considered unconventional is becoming increasingly ordinary.
For the Northern Rivers construction sector, that evolution is not simply about representation. It is about capacity, capability and long term resilience.
With enrolments continuing to rise and regional training providers reporting sustained interest, the trajectory appears set.
Hayley Miles’ journey from hairdresser to carpenter is one example among many. But collectively, these stories signal a broader structural change.
The construction workforce of the Northern Rivers is diversifying. And in doing so, it is strengthening the region’s ability to build what comes next.
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