Skilled trades are currently experiencing a significant demand for workers, yet there is a shortage of individuals in these roles, making it a potentially lucrative career path worth considering. WorkingNation and Scripps News have joined forces for a fresh series called "Fire Up Your Career," aimed at delving into the job opportunities available, strategies used by employers to attract talent, and how aspiring individuals can acquire the necessary skills for these well-compensated roles emerging nationwide.

While many skilled trade positions offer competitive wages and are unionized, the representation of women in this sector remains low, with less than 5% of skilled trade workers being female. Although there is a gradual increase in the number of women entering these fields, the pace of growth is insufficient. Consequently, organizations nationwide are actively engaging in efforts to recruit and train women to fill the rising demand for these sought-after positions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment outlook for construction and extraction jobs is expected to surpass the average growth rate for all occupations by the end of the 10-year period in 2033, with an estimated 663,500 job openings annually. Employers are struggling to find enough qualified individuals to fill these roles.

The U.S. Department of Commerce suggests that if more women were to enter and remain in the construction industry, there could potentially be a sufficient workforce to meet the current job demands. However, various factors like the job site culture, gender biases, sexual harassment, limited access to support services such as childcare, and the reliance on informal networks for recruitment are hindering the entry and retention of women in these fields.

Given the increased federal investments in infrastructure and the subsequent rise in demand for skilled workers, there is a prime opportunity for employers to focus on women as a solution to the shortage of skilled trade labor.

Melissa Wells, special assistant to the president at North America’s Building Trade Unions (NABTU), highlights the significance of the substantial funds allocated to infrastructure projects. She emphasizes the importance of leveraging these investments to encourage a diverse range of individuals, including women, people of color, veterans, and historically underrepresented groups, to explore and benefit from high-paying career paths within the building trade unions.

Wells notes the effectiveness of apprenticeship readiness programs like MC3 in creating pathways for individuals to enter these well-paid and rapidly growing careers. Despite recognizing the considerable potential for attracting women and individuals of color to the trades industry, she acknowledges that there is ample room for growth in this area.

NABTU will be hosting the Tradeswomen Build Nations gathering in New Orleans later this month, focusing on supporting and empowering tradeswomen by sharing their experiences, addressing challenges specific to women in the trades, discussing leadership opportunities, and exploring best practices and policies to facilitate the success of women in these trades.

Find out more: Working Nation