We Need More Women in Apprenticeships
Gender-based views of what a woman’s career should be, shouldn’t stop you from pursuing what you’re passionate about.
Why can’t women have careers in the construction industry? Why is it considered “untraditional” for women?
The days of gender roles are a thing of the past.
Women are capable of handling the same power tools and can operate the same machinery as men, Yes, yes they can!
There are so many women who love building things and get satisfaction from working with their hands, just like men. Then why shouldn’t you be able to pursue a career that your ability and aptitude match?
There’s no doubt, having a career as a skilled tradeswoman is going to be hard work, but it’s worth it if you like a challenge and really want a future career in that particular field.
There’s this stigma that women in construction or any other trade aren’t always “front runners” but it has become a necessity and companies are hiring more women because they tend to bring a great amount of value to a job. Just as much as men. A woman’s approach to a job can be different in terms of organization and details.
Why There Should Be More Tradeswomen
There are a lot of benefits for women considering a career in a trade.
Female leaders provide opportunities for women of trade to improve team performance, contribute fresh ideas, and further advance their careers with room for self-growth.
Higher Income Potential
On an average Women of trade earn up to 35% more than traditional female-dominated careers like Childcare and Administrative assistance. That is why we here, at OJT, promote apprenticeships because they lead to Family-Sustaining Careers.
A Labor Shortage
The demand for trade workers is predicted to grow to over 1.6 million people in the next four to five years. This opens up the opportunity for high paying, stable jobs for women. Especially considering the ever-widening Job-Skills Gap most states in the US are experiencing.
Mentoring And Inspiring Other Woman
Female leaders can be a valuable resource for their peers. Inspiring their future careers and encouraging them to further advance in their careers.
Tradeswomen play a pivotal role in inspiring a new generation of women, with their presence and what they have accomplished. Young women will see that having a trade, isn’t just for men.
Western Resources Center for Women in Apprenticeship
The Western Resources Center for Women in Apprenticeship is a joint project of Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. and Seattle-based Apprenticeship. Also, A Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW), & Oakland, California-based Tradeswomen, Inc.
Their mission is to help women of all ages thrive in family-supporting, high wage and high skill careers in construction, utilities, & manufacturing.
The WRC encourages apprenticeships trades to women and girls and also provides them with the necessary information about how to successfully apply to and navigate apprenticeships in a variety of skilled trades.
They also support existing tradeswomen and female apprentices by linking them to support networks and tradeswomen’s organizations while providing them with legal resources for dealing with discrimination and harassment.
Their members provide technical assistance at no cost to construction and manufacturing industry stakeholders. Including but not limited to registered apprenticeship programs seeking to diversify their workforces throughout the western United States.
They encourage users to reach out with questions, comments, or any technical assistance requests. Technical & promotional resources offered via the WRC website are made available at no cost to users through Creative Commons license agreements.
The WRC welcomes contributions of ideas, tools, publications, and financial resources from industry and apprenticeship stakeholders. Please get in touch if you have a great idea to improve their resources.
The U.S. Department of Labor, of Employment and Training Administration’s Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) Program, supports resources developed and offered by the WRC.
The WRC is a member of a network of WANTO-funded regional technical assistance centers with one mission, to increase women’s access to and success in a registered apprenticeship in nontraditional occupations.
Apprenticeship programs offered By The WRC
- Carpenter
- Floor Coverer
- Glass Installer
- Electrical Lineworker
- Exterior/Interior Specialist Drywall
- View all programs here
Apprenticeship Requirements:
- Must be 18 years
- HS Diploma/GED + math
- 1-year Algebra or Placement Test
- Must be physically capable of performing tasks
Contact Info:
- Address: 3934 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Ste. 101 Portland, OR 97212
- Email: info@tradeswomen.net
- Tradeswomen.net
- womeninapprenticeship.org
Ojt Supports Having More Tradeswomen in the American Workforce
Having more women with careers in trade doesn’t involve equal representation. Tradeswomen are making a huge difference in the industry as well and many companies are taking notice of this.