The World's Most In-Demand Female Tradespeople
Online search demand for female tradespeople is rising globally, according to our new analysis. Whether homeowners feel more comfortable inviting a woman into their home or businesses want to build more diverse teams, demand for women in skilled trades is clear.
In the UK alone, the skilled trades industry employs over 2 million workers1, yet women are still significantly underrepresented, making up as little as 15% of the workforce, with around 322,000 women currently in skilled trades industries2. The gender gap remains stark, but our research suggests clear demand that could help narrow it.
Using Google search data from 162 countries, we analysed where in the world female tradespeople are most sought after, which trades are leading the charge in female demand, and what is driving the shift.
With more women entering trades, practical considerations like vehicle choice are becoming increasingly important, so as experts in van insurance, we have also put together a guide to the best vans for the most in-demand female trades.
Most in-demand female trades across the UK
The UK’s demand for female tradespeople is clear, with thousands of searches each year across a range of skilled trade roles.
Annual searches for female trades in the UK
Rank | Trade | Annual searches |
|---|---|---|
1 | Female painter | 5,220 |
2 | Female electrician | 4,200 |
3 | Female mechanic | 4,140 |
4 | Female truck driver | 2,460 |
5 | Female plumber | 1,900 |
Topping the list, and aligning with the global demand, are female painters and decorators with over 5,000 annual searches. Female electricians follow closely behind with 4,200 annual searches and female mechanics with 4,140 UK searches each year.
The UK has a strong demand for female electricians, despite the role not ranking in the top 10 globally. Though there is clear demand, the supply of female electricians is low – as little as one to two percent of practising electricians in the UK are women as of 2024.7 This gap between consumer demand and women in the workforce shows a clear opportunity for women considering a career in skilled trades.
Female mechanics rank third, consistent with the global demand for the trade. Female truck drivers come in fourth with 2,460 annual searches and female plumbers round out the top five with 1,900 searches annually.
Across all five trades, the pattern is the same: demand is high from consumers and businesses, but it’s dramatically outpacing the number of women currently working in the roles.
The most in-demand female trades around the world
1. Female painters
Painting and decorating tops the global rankings as the most in-demand trade around the world. Women painters are the most searched-for female trade in 46 of 162 countries, 28% of all countries in the study.
Demand is strongest in the United States, where there are 35,700 annual searches for female painters, making it the top trade in 38 out of 50 states. From Maine to Hawaii and Alabama to Oregon, the trade dominates across America.
The UK joins the list with over 5,000 searches per year for female painters. The painting and decorating trade is one of the more accessible occupations, with a lower qualification barrier than other trades, plenty of self-employment opportunities, and relatively low start-up costs. These factors make it accessible for anyone wanting to enter the industry, driving both the supply and demand of the trade.
Other countries where female painters top the searches include Venezuela (17,880 annual searches), Turkey (9,810 annual searches) and the Philippines (3,800 annual searches).
2. Female mechanics
Female mechanics rank second globally, topping the search demand list of female trades in 27 countries worldwide (17%). Brazil leads with a staggering 2.8 million annual searches, making it the largest market for female mechanics in the world. As one of the world's largest automobile markets and the sixth largest car market globally4, Brazil’s demand for female mechanics reflects the country's booming automotive industry.
Beyond Brazil, there is also strong demand for female mechanics in Tunisia (24,200 annual searches), Angola (14,780 annual searches), Mozambique (9,590 annual searches), Japan (4,020 annual searches) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (3,860 annual searches).
3. Female butchers
Female butchers are the most in demand across 23 countries, making it the third most popular female trade worldwide. France takes the lead with 3.9 million annual searches for “bouchère”. With 18,077 butcher shops5 across mainland France compared to around 5,600 in the UK6, France’s deep-rooted butchery culture explains the scale of demand.
Belgium (279,700), Switzerland (97,200), Algeria (65,300), Morocco (60,400), Luxembourg (12,720), Senegal (5,120) and Cameroon (2,460) all following suit with searches suggesting the demand for the trade is strong.
4. Female welders
Welding demands precision and technical skill and global search data shows that demand for women with these skills is on the rise.
Argentina leads the way with 154,300, followed by Chile (117,800) and Italy (112,700). The trade has a particularly strong appeal across the Americas, with Honduras (8,610), El Salvador (6,110), Nicaragua (4,110) and Canada (2,550) all featuring on the list.
In the US, welding is the most searched female trade in nine states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming.
5. Female carpenters
Carpentry ties with welding in fourth place, the most in-demand female trade across 11 countries in the study. In Saudi Arabia, female carpenters are the most in-demand, reflecting the scale of growing construction in the country.
6. Female locksmiths
Locksmiths came out on top in five countries, with high demand for females in this specialist trade. Mexico leads with 607,000 annual searches, followed by Spain (268,000), Colombia (70,800), Puerto Rico (15,300) and Paraguay (14,960), a particularly high demand across Spanish-speaking countries.
7. Female cobblers
Cobbling, the skilled trade of repairing shoes, may be less visible than other trades, but demand for female cobblers is significant across several countries. Poland tops the list with 505,600 annual searches, followed by Portugal (250,800), Peru (128,400), Uruguay (29,800), Romania and Costa Rica.
8. Female tilers
Germany leads the demand for female tilers with 242,600 annual searches, followed by Austria (25,500) and Guinea (1,100).
Most in-demand female trades in the US by state
Female painters and decorators are the most universally sought after across the US, with 38 states searching for them. Across the country, from Hawaii to Maine and Alabama to Oregon, the trade is by far the most searched by Americans.
Welders take the top spot in nine states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming.
Female truck drivers were most sought after in three states: Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Why is demand for female tradespeople growing?
Three key forces are driving the trend towards more women in the skilled trades workforce: safety, diversity and representation.
Feeling safe at home
For women, whether they’re living alone, in single-parent households or at home in the day working and caring for children, having a stranger in your home can feel unsettling. Hiring a female tradesperson can ease that anxiety – not out of distrust towards male tradespeople, but because many women instinctively feel more at ease with other women in their personal space. Research backs this up, with one study revealing more than a third of homeowners say they would prefer a female tradesperson.3
Closing the labour gap
The UK construction and trades sector is facing a skills shortage, with ONS employment data showing a 4% year-on-year decline. Encouraging more women into skilled trades offers a practical way to help close the labour gap.
Visibility for women
When women are visible in trade roles, whether that's on job sites, driving vans or in the media, more young women start to see trades as a viable career path. The more female tradespeople there are, the more normalised and sought-after they become. Organisations such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) are working to raise that visibility, in the hope of changing perceptions of who roles in the trades are traditionally seen to be for.
The best vans for female tradespeople
No matter what trade you are in, having the right van makes a real difference to your working day. Here’s a breakdown of the best van options for the top five most in-demand female trades around the world.
Painter and Decorators
Painters and decorators need a vehicle that can carry long ladders, bulky dust sheets and most importantly, multiple tins of paint. A strong option for drivers looking for something reliable and spacious is a Ford Transit, Europe's best-selling commercial vehicle.8 Transit vans are fully customisable, with Ford offering electric, hybrid and diesel options, as well as a wide variety of trims and modifications to suit your needs.
Mechanics
A mobile mechanic’s van is essentially their workshop on wheels, so having storage capacity is essential. The van must have space for a full toolkit, diagnostic equipment and spare parts. The Volkswagen Crafter is a great choice for mechanics looking for a spacious cargo area and a powerful engine capable of handling heavy equipment and often long drives.
Welder
Welding equipment is heavy, bulky and needs to be stored securely, so having a spacious van with a high payload capacity is key to ensuring it can withstand daily heavy use. The Renault Master suits the needs of welders, with a 1,625 kg payload capacity and a 1,312 mm side opening that makes accessing tools and equipment easy. The Renault Master is available in both electric and diesel versions and offers drivers options on length and height to suit individual needs.
Carpenter
Carpentry involves materials and equipment of all shapes and sizes, so a versatile van with a modular interior and side door for easier access is ideal. The Volkswagen Transporter has a payload of up to 1.2 tonnes and a load length of up to 3,002 mm, making it a solid choice for carpentry equipment. Not only can drivers benefit from the size and design but MoneySuperMarket’s previous research also finds that the Volkswagen Transporter ranks as the second most likely traditional van to pass an MOT.
Locksmith
Locksmiths are often required to travel at short notice in both urban and rural areas. A van with ample space for the equipment needed is essential, making the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter a great choice. The durability and size of the van's design make it easy to work inside the vehicle, whether that’s for using workbenches, cutting keys or finding stock. With the locksmiths often travelling between jobs, the reliability of the vehicle is key, and the Sprinter can handle the mileage.
Why van insurance matters as much as the van itself
Whether you’re a painter needing space for ladders and tins or a mechanic keeping tools organised on the road, the right van insurance is as important as having the right tools.
Insurance Expert
Our Van Insurance expert, explains
Alicia Hempsted, Van Insurance expert, explains, “A tradesperson's van is often their office, their storage space and their way of getting from A to B, so having the right insurance is essential. Goods in transit cover they’re stolen from your van or damaged on the road, while breakdown cover means that if your van doesn’t start, your earnings don’t stop with it.”
Find the right van insurance for your trade here
Methodology
Google search data was used to establish the annual search volume (May 2025 to May 2026) in each country and USA state for ‘female + [trade]’ search terms (allowing for native language translations), for 162 different countries. The most searched for female trade is named as the most in-demand female trade in each country or region. Data correct as of May 2026. Data source: Google Keyword Planner
Sources
https://www.statista.com/statistics/265891/vehicles-sales-in-selected-countries/
https://www.sialparis.com/en/trends/sectoral-innovations/meat-market
https://rdmarketing.co.uk/knowledge-hub/how-many-butchers-in-the-uk/
https://elec.training/news/women-retraining-as-electricians-later-in-life-barriers-options-and-success-rates-uk/
Author
Sara Newell
Commercial Director
Sara Newell is the Commercial Director for Motor & Home Insurance at MoneySuperMarket. With almost 20 years of experience in insurance, Sara has built a reputation as a results-driven leader who...
