3 Reasons Why Women Should Consider a Career in the Skilled Trades
The skilled trades include jobs such as construction, electrical work, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning), mechanical work, plumbing, and welding. They also include healthcare-related fields such as respiratory therapy and sonography. Women are more likely to be seen in the healthcare sector of the trades, as opposed to the construction-related occupations.
The construction industry as a whole is dominated by men, but also older men. So not only is there a need for women, but there’s a need for younger workers— men and women included. Although this is not a field that most women seek to go into, there are many benefits associated with working in this field. Here are some reasons why the skilled trades profession is one of many profitable career paths for independent women.
These fields need more diversity.
Unfortunately, less than 5% of women make up the entire trade industry. As mentioned before, this field is dominated by older men. This means that there will soon be a large gap in the workforce with many of these older men retiring. Now is the perfect time for many young women (and young men too) to pursue a career in the skilled trades. And because the trades are services in which people will always require (even during a global pandemic), there will always be jobs available.
The trades are for women too!
Some may think that the skilled trades are too hard for women, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Women have the ability to be just as successful as men in this industry. In fact, the 21st Century isn’t the first time women were seen in the skilled trades profession. During World War II while men were fighting in the war, women stepped up and filled their positions— and excelled!
Women can also excel in leadership positions within the trades as well. If you’re a woman looking to start a business, consider a business in construction or a related field. The trade industry is one that is likely to be around for quite some time, so it’s a safe business venture. There are also helpful tools and services available to help get you started, one being truck rental services that allow you to rent trucks for your business for the duration of your project.
The pay is great and it doesn’t take much to get started.
Some of the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree are found among the skilled trades. The median salary for construction-related trade jobs are as follows:
- HVAC technician: $48,730 per year
- Plumber: $55,162 per year
- Electrician: $56,181 per year
- Home Building Inspector: $60,710 per year
- Boilermaker: $63,100 per year
- Landscape Architect: $69,360 per year
- Construction Manager: $95, 260 per year
Because these positions don’t always require a bachelor’s degree, it is much more profitable to attend a trade school (for no more than three years) and study one of these trades. Trade school programs offer on-site learning to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your chosen field. Upon completion of your program, you’ll become certified, and then you’ll be able to apply for a license to officially begin working in your new profession.
Conclusion
These are just a few reasons why women should consider working in the trades. Unfortunately across all fields of work, women don’t always get paid as much as men in the same line of work, but their salaries tend to match the men’s a little closer than in other fields. Hopefully, we’ll see this trend across all fields of work.
On top of the great pay rate, the skilled trades can be very rewarding, for women and men. Working in the trades is hard work, and you get to see immediate results of that hard work. You’re also helping people, which can be the most rewarding part of any career.