Common Barriers

In 1985 women earned on average only 66 per cent of what men earned. Since their average earnings are consistently lower than men's, many women do not have the financial resources to overcome the barriers to labour force equality. Female family heads form one of the most disadvantaged groups in Canadian society. Eighty-nine per cent of single-parent families are headed by women, and half of them live below the poverty line. Three out of every five poor adults in Canada are women.

Women in Canada face a great number of barriers that make it difficult to obtain appropriate job-related training.

Economic and social barriers

• Many women lack the resources to give up their existing jobs to enter full-time training programs.
  
  
• Women on social assistance may lose their benefits if they enroll in training programs.
  
  
• Training allowances for women who do enter full-time programs often fail to reflect the cost of living.
  
  
• The lack of affordable child care - particularly infant and after school care - is a major barrier to training for many women.
  
  
• Employers often fail to support women's career advancement through ongoing training and skill development.
  
  
• Employers are often uneasy about hiring or promoting women, especially in non-traditional jobs.

Structural Barriers

• Eligibility requirements for certain training programs often restrict women's participation.
  
  
• In rural and northern regions, the cost of travel and a lack of child care or suitable accommodation cake it difficult for many women to enter training programs.
  
  
• Employment counselling is often inadequate, or oriented toward traditional jobs.
  
  
• The lack of English or French language training can prevent native and immigrant women from learning new skills.
  
  
• It is difficult to transfer credits and training credentials between provinces and countries.
  
  
• Inflexible course schedules often fail to reflect women's family-related responsibilities.