Killarney,
The blue collar tradesmen are almost all subcontractors and independants these days, not many people employ labourers or have a large staff and there are plenty of husband and wife teams getting about doing landscaping, painting, plastering, tiling etc.
Construction methods have also changed a lot in the last two decades, plumbers for example don't do much brazing or trench digging by hand anymore, the plumbing is mostly plastic and the bobcat and mini excavators have taken most of the back breaking element out of the trade.
With regard to things like electrical work, automation and plant maintenance you have to have a science and maths brain to make the big money in those areas these days and we know that not many women are interested in those fields of study.
I get the impression that Feminists see tradesmen as overpaid oafs who are doing a job anyone can do but that's not the case, most firms want their apprentices to have year 12 and if you want to get ahead you have to do extra study, get all your tickets, do business courses etc, be constantly reading about standards and such, the days of just turning up and as long as you had a strong back you'd bee set for life are long gone.

OTB,

Up until I retired in 1994 I only ever worked with four tradeswomen, one welder and three fitters and turners, all were very good at their jobs and were well respected by their workmates; the only thing that changed was that the men started to keep their work areas and their machines cleaner!!

Don't believe a word of that Is Mise.

I'll bet the calendar collection on the wall went into the mens shower room.