Globally, less than 1.5% of plumbers are female, with the percentage varying from as low as 1% to as high as 3.5% between countries. In an industry where finding skilled employees is becoming increasingly difficult, diversification is crucial. More female plumbers could help close the labour shortage gap, offer women more opportunities to develop trade skills, bring diverse perspectives to job sites, and challenge outdated stereotypes. With so many benefits from women pursuing plumbing, we're committed to supporting efforts to increase female representation in the trade.
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Need more guidance on running a plumbing business? Check out:
- How to start a plumbing business
- How to be a good plumber
- How to grow a plumbing business
- How to get plumbing industry leads
- Your guide to plumbing industry associations
- How to get a plumbing apprenticeship
- How to be a good plumbing apprentice
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- Benefits of women becoming plumbers
- Challenges women face in the plumbing trade
- Female plumbers in the United States
- Female plumbers in the United Kingdom
- Female plumbers in Australia
- Female plumbers in New Zealand
1. Benefits of women becoming plumbers
Joining the plumbing trade offers women job security and competitive pay, while also allowing them to apply critical problem-solving skills in practical, hands-on ways. In a world where women often carry more student debt than men and earn less over their lifetimes, plumbing apprenticeships can help women spend less on education and earn more in their careers.
Qualified plumbers also have the flexibility to eventually choose the work style that suits them best, whether through full-time employment, subcontracting, or starting their own plumbing business.
Encouraging more female plumbers also has the potential to improve the plumbing industry as a whole by offering new viewpoints and challenging outdated mentalities and attitudes towards work. According to the Centre of Leadership, more women in the workforce leads to:
- Increased job satisfaction
- A more motivated workforce
- Employees find meaning in their work
- Lower chances of burnout
- Increased job security
- Higher revenue
There's a run-on impact on customers too. According to WaterSafe, a third of women prefer a female plumber to carry out work in their homes.
"Reasons cited include feeling safer with a woman (37%), feeling like they wouldn’t be ripped off by a female (12%), trusting advice from a woman more than a man (10%) and the likelihood that a woman wouldn’t patronise them (10%).”
2. Challenges women face in joining the plumbing trade
Reasons for the low percentage of female plumbers vary, although stereotypes about the nature of plumbing work, women’s strength and capacity for physical work play an important role. Additional factors include long working hours, lack of maternity and childcare options, sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace and lack of opportunities given to female apprentices and contractors.
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3. Female plumbers in the United States
Over the past five years, the percentage of female plumbers in the U.S. has remained relatively low, averaging between 2% and 3.5%. There has been some gradual progress, with a slow rise in female participation from around 2.31% in 2010 to 3.5% in 2021, before slightly dropping to 2.5% in 2023. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be 48,600 plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter vacancies in the country each year between now and 2031, meaning that there is a huge gap in the market female plumbers could fill!
One key opportunity for women entering the plumbing trade is the relatively narrow gender pay gap compared to other industries. In 2021, women in plumbing earned roughly 91% of what men earned, which is significantly better than the average 84% pay gap across all sectors within the United States. This smaller wage disparity makes plumbing an attractive option for women seeking a high-paying, skilled trade career.
While women make up around 2.5% of plumbers in the field within America, they represent about 13% of registered apprentices in plumbing. Despite this higher percentage of women entering apprenticeship programs, many struggle to find full-time roles after completing their training.
According to a report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, difficulties in accessing child care and a lack of adequate support during pregnancy and parenthood are among the reasons some women, especially parents, consider leaving the trades. However, the report also highlights that 60% of qualified mothers with children under 18 working in the trades do not leave. Combined with ongoing reports of gender bias, limited opportunities and harassment, however. goes a long way to explain the disparities between qualified female apprentices and female plumbers.
4. Female plumbers in the United Kingdom
There are roughly 12,000—15,000 female plumbers in the UK. That’s just 1% of the total number of plumbers, which sits somewhere between 120,000—150,000 qualified tradespeople.
However, there has been some progress in recent years. In 2020, the number of female apprentices doubled, from 1 in every 40 to 1 in 20. Overall, while the UK has made strides in increasing the number of female plumbers, more work is needed to create a supportive environment that enables women to thrive and build long-term careers in the industry. According to the UK Heat Pump Association, the country needs more than 50,000 additional installers by the end of the decade. The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council goes further, estimating that 150,000 more installers are required.
This growth is largely driven by a combination of government and industry-backed initiatives aimed at increasing gender diversity. Programs that focus on mentorship, apprenticeships, and outreach are designed to support women entering the trade and ensure that they have the resources and support needed to succeed. For example, apprenticeships specifically targeting women, alongside efforts from trade organisations, are helping to foster a more inclusive environment for female plumbers, such as plumbing scholarships for women through Choice Training UK.
5. Female plumbers in Australia
In Australia, female plumbers make up less than 1% of the total plumbing workforce, one of the lowest percentages for a trade occupation where female tradies make up 3%. Despite this low representation, Australia is making concerted efforts to increase female involvement in plumbing through mentorship programs and apprenticeships.
Women accounted for approximately 2% of plumbing apprentices in Australia as of 2022. This percentage is higher than the number of qualified female plumbers as women still face significant barriers in transitioning from apprenticeships to full-time roles. These barriers include persistent gender stereotypes, lack of role models, and fewer opportunities to network or secure employment after completing their training.
Most plumbing businesses in Australia are relatively small, typically consisting of about three plumbers per team. This lack of monopolies means that there is a huge opportunity for women to establish and grow their plumbing businesses. The flexibility and autonomy that come with running a plumbing business can be especially appealing to women in a male-dominated trade, offering them a clear path in an industry that has traditionally been difficult to break into.
Australia is actively working to increase female participation in the plumbing industry. Groups including Tradeswomen Australia and Empowered Women in Trades offer mentorship programs, scholarships, and pre-apprenticeship training programs specifically designed for women. These programs aim to provide technical skills and offer networking opportunities, support systems, and mentorship that can help women navigate challenges in the workplace.
6. Female plumbers in New Zealand
In New Zealand, around 1% of plumbers are female. The plumbing sector, like many other skilled trades, remains heavily male-dominated, with very few women working in hands-on plumbing roles. However, organisations such as Women in Trades and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) are finding creative and successful ways to encourage more women to consider a plumbing career. Women in Trades provides resources and support for women interested in plumbing and other skilled trades, including hosting events, networking opportunities, and offering mentorship programs. NAWIC similarly advocates for female representation across all construction and trade roles, including plumbing, and works to create more inclusive workplaces.
Despite these efforts, the progress remains gradual, with female participation still extremely low. Challenges such as societal stereotypes, limited access to role models, and a lack of awareness about career opportunities in the plumbing for women are ongoing issues.
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