Instruction Manual for Female-Focused Trade Education Institutions

In the world of trades, women are making a significant impact, reshaping the industry and breaking traditional barriers.

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Trade workers, including plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, are some of the highest-paying trades. During apprenticeship, these professionals earn around $45,790 a year, with potential earnings of $75,970 or more each year as a master plumber. Women are increasingly joining these traditionally male-dominated careers, contributing to the growth of their numbers in the industry.

One such example is Volk, a bridge carpenter who earned $94,000 last year, working around 50-58 hours a week. Volk started as a floor installer in 2019 earning $15 an hour and trained as a bridge carpenter in 2023, now earning $39 an hour.

Trade workers are less likely to be displaced by advances in artificial intelligence, making these careers a stable choice for those seeking steady employment. Moreover, trades offer decent pay and benefits, even during training programs.

The construction trades, in particular, are popular due to their high wages, union protection, and opportunities for advancement and growth. The Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance's 2020 Construction Trade Guidebook notes how construction trades are best suited for students who enjoy working outdoors, are physically fit and strong, can wake up early and be punctual to job sites, and have basic math abilities.

Nearly 1.2 million women work in construction, making up almost 10% of the industry's workforce. This number is expected to rise as women's committees and tradeswomen's organizations, such as the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology, and Science, the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues, and YWCA's YWomen in the Trades, continue to demand better, more equal conditions for female workers and trainees.

The federal government and other advocacy groups are helping to pave the way for women in the trades. In April 2023, the federal government announced $5 million in grants to attract and support women in underrepresented apprenticeship programs, including construction, manufacturing, and cybersecurity.

Many positions in the trades require licensure, training, and/or apprenticeships. Culinary school can be a popular route for women in trades interested in the restaurant industry. trade jobs are in high demand as labor shortages continue to grow, making this an opportune time for women to enter the field.

Despite the progress, women in the trades still face challenges. Historically, women have been shut out from roles in construction and mechanical and technical work because those roles were seen to be better suited for men. However, the pay gap between men and women in the construction industry is much smaller than in other industries, with women earning 95.5% of every dollar their male counterparts earn, according to the National Association of Women in Construction.

Women in the trades are making a difference, not just in their own careers but also in the industry as a whole. As more women enter the field, they are helping to create a more inclusive and equitable workforce. Volk, for example, aspires to move into management and hopes to one day work as a union leader and activist.

In conclusion, the trades offer women a promising future, with well-paying careers, opportunities for advancement, and a growing sense of community and support. As more women enter the field, they are helping to reshape the industry and pave the way for future generations.