Carolyn thought she would pay the bill in coins.Instead she’s banking on rails

“Some of the more exciting stories I’ve heard are of hairdressers who started driving coal trains in the Bowen Basin and earned five times as much as hairdressers,” Wilkie said.

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“From what I’ve heard from my sisters and friends, I’m really shocked at how great the pay and opportunities are for women.”

The construction industry is also actively recruiting women as it faces a labor shortage of 105,000 workers.But so far, women 12% of the industry workforce.

However, in rail, the share of women in the labor force jumped to 24% in 2020-21 (up from 22% in 2018-19 and is projected to rise again this year).

Daniel Waltz, founder of the rail training organization Training Ahead Australia, said interest among women has doubled since the pandemic. Some of the reasons are rising wages, increased use of technology, and profound changes in the workplace.

“After all, railroad culture is changing,” she said.

“Women are playing a variety of roles, not only in business support and white-collar jobs, but also as train drivers and workers, operating tools and machinery.”

In a report to Metro Trains by former Senior Detective Val Smith, toxic culturebullying, sexism, harassment.

There was some evidence of change when the state government announced in August that it had hired its 500th female Metro train driver.

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The rail industry association will launch a major campaign next year to attract more women to rail, as well as recruiting efforts by other male-dominated industries, such as civil engineering and construction.

O’Loughlin is currently working on the $531 million Gippsland rail line upgrade.

“It doesn’t matter what race, age, where you come from, or what you believe in. There’s a place for everyone in this industry. Yesterday I worked with a woman who was seven months pregnant,” O’Loughlin said.

“This job allows me to pay my bills and still get some for myself. That’s pretty cool.”

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