The Rise of Women in Trade Industries
Today, the gender gap across industries is huge. According to a report from the World Economic Forum in 2016, the share of women in industries overall is only 30%, but women working in basic and infrastructure industries is only 16%. Even then, the gender wage gap in the same industry is 35%.
Our collective narrative about what constitutes ‘women’s work’ leaves out much of the history of real women’s work. Because women’s work is and has been anything a woman wants to do, whether she’s 20 or 50 and whether she’s a mother or not. Thankfully, there are now renewed efforts to push for the opportunity for women and girls to get involved in unconventional jobs.
Real headway in subverting both gender norms and entrenched workplace customs is on its way. Here’s what’s happening right now.
Women in Trades Have a Storied History
The popular imagination sees trades as inherently masculine professions. A career path like interior design might be acceptable for women, but one in architecture or construction might not be.
However, when chaos descended upon cities and countries and men were in short supply, labor markets turned to women to pick up the slack.
World War I and World War II are clear examples of the potential for a less gendered look at labor in Western societies. During both wars, men were drafted and sent off to the front, leaving behind a shortage of workers in those ‘traditionally male’ roles. Women were ready and waiting to step in. For example, by 1944, over 25,000 women were in the construction industry, laying bricks, working as joiners, or serving as laborers. In London, around 350 women rebuilt the Waterloo Bridge over the River Thames.
Why is the popular history of women in these trades so far removed from our memories? There are a few reasons. In the case of women who built the Waterloo Bridge, the construction firm was liquidated after the build, and all records were lost: only oral histories and a series of recently uncovered photographs remain. But for the millions of other women, the reason is less coincidental. When men returned from war, women were expected to give up their jobs, and those who remained were often barred from union representation, which meant it was impossible to get regular work in trades.
These Programs Are Bringing Women Back into Trades
Today, women’s participation in trades remains low across the board — despite their immense promise and potential to succeed in these career paths.
It’s not because women can’t or won’t work in these professions. It’s because women aren’t necessarily encouraged to pursue them. There’s a real lack of knowledge about these careers and how women can participate in them through apprenticeships and training programs.
The trades are already having trouble filling key professional roles. They have a difficult time finding workers who are qualified to enter advanced leadership roles. Issues like a focus on third-level education as well as the tech boom have exacerbated the problem.
Yet, groups of women are out making headway in encouraging women into nontraditional employment. Bodies like the Chicago Women in Trades and Oregon Tradeswomen are holding career fairs, running pre-apprenticeship programs, and even hosting social hours to encourage women to give in the trades a leg up and mentor other women. The Nontraditional Employment for Women group in New York City runs multi-week-long programs and boot camps that educate and prepare women between 18 and 24 for trades by giving them hands-on experience with tools and materials.
What we’re seeing is women already in the trades reaching out a hand and helping the next generation of girls and women up the ladder. Women in the trades have found their voice, and they’re using it to not only improve career prospects for other women but also to improve their own futures.
Planning for the Future
Trade occupations often provide robust retirement benefits, including 401(k) plans and pensions, particularly for union members. Unions play a pivotal role in negotiating comprehensive retirement packages, ensuring that workers have access to employer-sponsored retirement accounts and, in some cases, defined-benefit pension plans.
These benefits offer financial security and peace of mind, making trade careers an attractive option for women seeking stable and rewarding employment opportunities. Women can then take further steps to grow retirement wealth, both throughout and after their careers, by opting for investments like bonds, fixed annuities, and certificates of deposits. These financial tools, in addition to a reliable and lucrative career path, can help set tradeswomen up for a successful and comfortable future. Whether they
Women Are Improving Trade Work for Everyone
Women are out helping women into nontraditional roles. They’re doing the work and using their voices. What’s more, they’re improving workplaces, and not just by improving the gender balance. They’re improving standards for other women — and for men by extension.
Even though fields like construction are seeing more women sign onto sites than before, there are still issues. For example, most personal protection equipment (PPE) in trades is designed for men. Poor-fitting PPE leaves women vulnerable to injury. Women are also stepping up on-site and talking about safety generally by discussing not only what companies can do to protect their workers on-site but how they can support workers off-site, too.
The trades are struggling, and in many ways, it’s women who are going out of their way to save these industries from further distress. As hiring becomes more difficult, women working as builders, electricians, and welders aren’t just busting stereotypes: they’re going above and beyond to create structures to help other women (and girls) get in on the action.