Leena, Kelli, Grace, and Amanda all Work Like A Girl!
Benefits of Working in the Skilled Trades for Women
Courtesy of WorkWave.
While there are challenges to overcome for women entering skilled trades, skilled trades and field service industries that are intentional about diversity have a lot to gain by culturing diverse teams and labor forces. As more women seek to enter skilled trades and industries begin to understand the benefits of hiring more tradeswomen, it paves the way for other women to enjoy the benefits of skilled labor jobs such as:
Affordability and timely education
- Vocational schools, trade schools, and community colleges are often much more affordable and offer the chance for students to graduate with little or no debt. Trade skill students can often begin earning an income after two years of education.
- There are also grants available to help women gain the education they need to pursue a career in some skilled trades, such as manufacturing or construction.
On-the-job training
You can gain experience immediately while receiving a paycheck.
Job opportunities and job security
There is a large demand for skilled tradespeople in the labor market, and that demand is projected to continue increasing.
Growth possibilities and job flexibility
There are significant opportunities to continue developing new skills to become a journeyman, master, or expert, or start your own business as a contractor.
Opportunity for travel
Traveling skilled trades positions are often lucrative and available.
Make a good living
Skilled tradespeople consistently make a good living and increase the opportunity of making more as they gain more experience.
Be a role model
Young women are often discouraged from considering skilled trades, which offer financial independence, job satisfaction, and many career opportunities. Becoming a skilled tradeswomen helps to dismantle stereotypes and may inspire more young women.
Community
There are networks of tradeswomen such as Tradeswomen Inc, Tradeswomen Build Nations, or the Tradeswomen Taskforce that work together to support, encourage, and help other tradeswomen.
Work Like A Girl is part of WHRO’s American Graduate: Getting to Work national initiative, funded by Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to create awareness of the great opportunities for young women in skilled careers. These are careers that, when you think of them, you usually think of a man in the job such as electricians, welders, and truckers. However, they are rewarding well-paying jobs for women and we need to let them know about them for many reasons. For young women with a high school diploma, and without additional training or secondary education, the main jobs available to them are mostly low paying jobs such as retail, childcare, and hospitality. These types of hourly jobs do not provide a sustainable wage for a family, or a long term career. And, how much work that is available can be heavily influenced by the seasons or the region’s economic situation.