Skilled Trades Job Opportunities For Women
Skilled trades job opportunities are launching around the country. Right now the manufacturing industry is experiencing a shortage of machinists and welders, and the problem isn't going away any time soon, according to IndustryWeek's Salary Survey. Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents agreed they've struggled to fill a position in the past year, while 78 percent noted concern with the current aging workforce.
More baby boomers are retiring each year than there are skilled candidates entering these fields, and while this creates an issue for many plants and manufacturing companies, it does provide an opportunity for a specific group of workers who in the past have been overlooked: women.
As gender equality becomes more prevalent in today's society, roles that were previously seen as fit for men are expanding to include women as well. This shift benefits women looking to increase their income as well as the employers who currently lack skilled workers. Training programs for welding and computerized manufacturing careers are encouraging women to enter new fields and explore new opportunities.
Skilled Trades Job Misconceptions
“Traditionally, there’s been a negative perception towards skilled trades among younger generations and their families,” says Lou Vendrell, Lou Vendrell, Corporate Director of Education for Lincoln Tech’s Automotive and Skilled Trades programs, “They believe that Skilled Trades jobs are low paying, involve extreme physical work, are dirty, and aren’t intellectually stimulating. But the technological advances taking place in fields like manufacturing and welding make these industries excellent places to turn for young people looking for stable, rewarding careers.”
“Women are certainly underrepresented in these occupations,” Vendrell adds. “And there are plenty of opportunities out there!”
The day is coming when women in manufacturing and welding roles are seen as the norm, not the exception. Training programs like those offered at Lincoln Tech That's why our Welding and Machining programs can help women looking for new career paths build the skills that get noticed by hiring managers – and with more than 64,000 manufacturing jobs and more than 115,000 welding jobs projected to become available around the country by 2024*, there’s never been a better time to start!
* Source: careeronestop.org, for the years 2014-2024.