Women In Skilled Trades (WIST)

we believe in you!

Young women exploring their next steps after high school should know that the skilled trades offer powerful, rewarding, and well‑paid career paths. Today, industries like construction, electrical work, manufacturing, automotive, and HVAC are undergoing major workforce shortages—creating unprecedented opportunities for those ready to step in. The U.S. is projected to be short more than 2 million tradespeople by 2030, making your interest not only valuable but essential to the future workforce. As companies and communities look for fresh talent, women like you bring unique strengths, perspectives, and leadership potential that the industry genuinely needs.

Women are already beginning to reshape these fields, even though representation remains low. For example, women make up 10.8%–11.2% of the construction workforce, yet only 4% of women currently hold trade‑specific construction roles, showing just how much space there is for new trailblazers. Across individual trades, the numbers make the need even clearer: women represent only 2.9% of electricians, 3.2% of plumbers, and 1.3% of HVAC technicians—roles that offer strong salaries and long‑term job security. These low percentages aren’t a barrier—they’re an invitation. They show there is tremendous room for women to lead, innovate, and redefine what the future of skilled work looks like.

If you’re considering a future in the trades, know that you belong here. Not only are opportunities growing, but women in leadership within construction already make up 39% of managerial positions, proving that advancement is absolutely possible. Apprenticeships—one of the most affordable paths into a career—are also opening doors, with the number of women apprentices rising nearly 186% since 2015. The world needs highly skilled, creative problem‑solvers, and the skilled trades offer a chance to build, repair, innovate, and shape the future with your hands and your mind. If you choose this path, you won’t just be entering a career—you’ll be joining a movement of women transforming what’s possible.