In the UK, more women are breaking traditional stereotypes by entering plumbing, construction, and home DIY (do-it-yourself) trades. Social media content created by female influencers is inspiring a new generation of women to use tools themselves, while a growing number are changing careers to work in manual trades.
Interest in home improvement grew during COVID lockdowns when hiring professionals was difficult. Younger women are leading this trend: according to a 2024 report by retailer B&Q, about 75% of Gen Z women surveyed enjoy DIY, and 82% said watching female influencers online motivated them to try complex home projects.
At the same time, demand for professional tradeswomen is rising. TaskHer, an online platform that connects female tradespeople with customers, reported that customer inquiries more than doubled so far this year, while the number of tradeswomen signing up almost quadrupled. Some women are leaving office jobs for trades because they offer flexible working hours and are less likely to be affected by artificial intelligence (AI).
Although women currently represent only about 4% of the UK construction workforce, participation is steadily increasing. In 2024–25, one in ten people starting a construction apprenticeship was a woman, up from one in fourteen five years earlier. Industry experts and influencers hope that greater online visibility will help make trade careers normal and accessible for more women.