CONSTRUCTION sites traditionally have been the domain of men, but with good money available and an industry labour shortage, increasing numbers of women appear to be choosing trades as careers. 

In a recent Business Week edition we spoke with Katherine Reid, trade manager at Smithfield Mitre 10.

Amanda Watt, 19, is another prepared to get her hands dirty, having worked as a plaster renderer with Oakley Solid Plastering for almost two years.

"I got into it because a (male) friend was working on a site in Port Douglas,'' she said.

"At the time I was working as a receptionist with an accountancy firm and was looking at accountancy as a career.

"My friends think I'm crazy but they also think it's great and there's no trouble working with the boys.''

Miss Watt is looking forward to a long career in rendering and plans to get her full ticket in a bit over two years.

Boss Col Oakley said he was surprised when she approached him for a job, but he liked to give everyone a chance.

"She is definitely pulling her weight, in fact I could do with a few more like her,'' he said.

Master Builders Association Far Northern regional manager Ron Bannah said women were definitely becoming more involved in construction.

"This year through TAFE and Construction Skills Queensland we've introduced 15 female apprentice electricians into the industry locally,'' he said.

Mr Bannah said he'd heard of a local plumbing business receiving 60 applications for apprenticeships and all of them came from women.

"We have more and more women entering the industry each year and the apprenticeship of the year for Queensland recently was female,'' he said.

Housing Industry Association North Queensland manager John Futer said the number of women in trades had increased but there should be more.

"We believe we have tapped into about half of our potential work force so I think it's great news more women are choosing trades,'' he said.

"The Australian technical colleges have helped, as some women feel more comfortable learning in this environment than with an apprenticeship.''

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