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The program harnesses the power of people to address both the need for skilled operators and the industry gender disparity. Image: Volvo CE

The programme was launched by Volvo Trucks in 2016 and has since enabled more than 700 women across ten countries to enter the professional world of truck driving.

The model is now being adapted for construction, with Volvo CE to roll out the programme in several countries over the coming years in collaboration with local and regional partners.

The first country where the programme will be implemented is Ukraine, where the need for qualified operators has never been more critical. The nation has been forced into ongoing reconstruction efforts, while facing unemployment and labour market gaps. On completion, participants will earn a government-recognised certificate qualifying them to operate both excavators and wheeled loaders.

The Iron Women programme in Ukraine has three key partners: Volvo CE, ETS Group, which supplies temporary and permanent electrical installations, refit programmes, mechanical and engineering and construction services, and Beredskapslyftet, a Swedish non-profit dedicated to mobilising resources during crises.

“The Iron Women program tackles our country’s challenges by equipping women with special skills that will enable them to take on a new, stable and rewarding profession in the construction industry, a field traditionally dominated by men, while also helping grow a workforce critical for our nation’s societal development and rebuilding efforts in the long-term,” said Anastasia Marisenkova, program lead at ETS Group.

The programme will be implemented in Ukraine within the framework of Reskilling Ukraine, an initiative by Beredskapslyftet and supported by Swedish corporate donors and private foundations, as well as the Swedish Government.

By the end of 2025, the scheme aims to have trained at least 50 women in Ukraine, and Volvo CE already is actively setting up similar programmes in other countries, such as India.

“The Iron Women program is an excellent initiative that will help fill needed skill gaps, break down gender stereotypes, and contribute to the important shift towards a more inclusive workforce in the construction industry,” said Melker Jernberg, Head of Volvo CE.