Ms Creed was keen on a job that would allow her to get her "hands dirty", so she jumped at an opportunity to have a three-month trial at a family friend's construction company.

The granddaughter of a builder, Ms Creed loved this trial period and decided to pursue a full-time career in the building industry.

Ms Creed, 22, is now a fourth year apprentice builder with Wagga's Ladex Construction Group and one of an increasing number of young women who are pursuing careers in construction trades.

She initially studied for a Certificate III in Building and Construction at TAFE NSW Wagga.

Ms Creed is now keen to ratchet her training up a notch by enrolling in a Certificate IV in Building and Construction, making her a licensed builder. She also hopes to use the qualification as a springboard to further studies in project management or architecture.

As for being a female in an industry where less than 1 per cent of workers share her gender, Ms Creed was philosophical.

"It was a bit confronting at first but it didn't take me long to be part of the team," she said. "I don't see myself as a trailblazer but I would definitely encourage other females interested in construction to just give it a go."

Also giving it a go is Grace Di Trapani, a second year apprentice, who works alongside Ms Creed at Ladex.

Like Ms Creed, she is studying at the Wagga TAFE campus.

Ms Di Trapani, 20, says she was always an "outside kid", who loved sport.

When it came to picking a career path, she decided she wanted to give the construction industry a go.

"I just love it," she said.

Looking to the future, Ms Di Trapani wants to "stay on the tools" for a while yet, but admits further study and qualifications in project management are in her plans.

Joe Gibbons, the Ladex foreman on site with Ms Creed and Ms Di Trapani, said the pair were the first female tradies he had worked alongside.

"It was a little bit different at first," he said.

"But now, I don't see any difference whatsoever."

Labour market reports from the Department of Jobs and Small Business show that in 2018, only 38 per cent of construction job vacancies were filled, with an average of 0.5 qualified applicants per advertised job.

TAFE NSW head teacher of construction Patrick Rawnsley said those figures reflected the strong demand for qualified and well-trained builders, both male and female.

"There are fantastic opportunities for a long and prosperous career in construction," Mr Rawnsley said. "And we are seeing more females enter non-traditional trades than ever before."