Instruction Manual for Female Trade Education
In the ever-evolving world of work, women are making significant strides in traditionally male-dominated industries, particularly in the trades. From healthcare to construction, women are partnering with professionals such as doctors, dentists, and veterinarians to operate medical machinery and provide patient care, as well as building our infrastructure.
The trades sector is offering attractive remuneration for women. Dental hygienists, diagnostic sonographers, and radiation therapists, for instance, earn median annual salaries surpassing $80,000. Moreover, the pay gap between men and women in the construction industry is relatively small, with women earning 95.5% of every dollar their male counterparts earn.
The restaurant, beauty, and self-care industries are projected to have a demand for skilled trade workers over the next decade. However, a 2022 study by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation revealed an imbalance in gender representation at the executive level, with only 38% of industry executives being women, despite 69% of mid-level workers identifying as female.
Labor activists, industry groups, and the federal government all agree that women are an untapped resource in many trades, especially construction. Volk, a 33-year-old bridge carpenter, is a testament to this, earning $94,000 last year, working around 50-58 hours a week. She aspires to move into management and hopes to one day work as a union leader and activist.
Women have historically dominated fields like cosmetology and massage therapy. However, they are increasingly making their mark in other trades. Some apprenticeships in trades offer entry-level salaries in the $40,000-$50,000 range. For instance, Volk trained as a bridge carpenter in 2023 and now earns $39 an hour, expecting to increase her wage once she gets her journeyman status.
Trades like plumbing, pipefitting, and steamfitting offer high-paying careers, with an average pay of around $45,790 during a 4-year apprenticeship, increasing to $63,990 as a journeyperson plumber, and potentially up to $75,970 or more each year as a master plumber.
The federal government and other advocacy groups are taking steps to attract and support women in underrepresented apprenticeship programs. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced increased government funding for female apprenticeships in underrepresented trades for women, and 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.
Women's committees and tradeswomen's organizations are growing in number, demanding better, more equal conditions for female workers and trainees. Trained trade workers are in high demand due to labor shortages, and Bestcolleges.com, with its network of industry professionals, called the Integrity Network, is working to ensure the accuracy of their content about these opportunities.
Despite these promising developments, women in construction still face challenges such as discrimination, harassment, difficulties finding childcare, and a lack of pregnancy accommodations. However, the Million Women in Construction initiative, a government effort to double the number of women in construction over a decade, offers hope for a more inclusive future.
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