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The skilled trades are a wonderful career opportunity for women.

Whether you’re fresh out of high school, or looking to change careers, learning a trade is a great pathway to a high paying career that raises you above the normal, regular job. We help gritty women find the career that provides them the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.

Nationally, only 3 to 4% of the building trades workforce are women – and similar representation in related skilled trades such as machinists and auto mechanics. Tradeswomen Inc. aims to increase the number of women in construction and related trades.

We support women who are looking for a career in a craft, and act as a resource center for both tradeswomen and employers to bring change into the skilled trades.

Produced by the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California in collaboration with TWI.

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We Support Women In SKILLED Trades

We offer a range of services to help women who are looking to get into the building trades, and providing meetups that help women build comradery, while help the contractors and unions who work with skilled tradeswomen with training and retention education.

Outreach & Recruitment Services

Help make sure your talent pool has the diversity and skill that can ensure fast-paced growth for your business.

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Continued Support

We have meetups regularly for women in the building trades to have a place to build comradery.

Our Programs

Leadership & Management Support

Support for both union and contractor Human Resources Development for the workforce development.

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The Facts

Construction and Utilities were the ONLY sectors where
more women are on the payroll after the
the Coronavirus Pandemic than before.

 

“Generally: Women make 81 cents to a man’s dollar.
In construction: 94 cents to a man’s dollar.
Union Careers: Dollar-to-dollar equal in ALL union contracts.”

Source: The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR)

Why choose a career in a union construction trade?

20

Average starting wage is $20/hr PLUS benefits. Plus Project Labor Agreements, or construction work done for government agencies, pay PREVAILING WAGE.

100

Although women make 80 cents on the dollar in most comparable positions, union contracts dictate that WOMEN make the SAME as Men

4

In the summer of 2019, seasonally adjusted construction employment in California topped 900,000 for the first time in 12 years, increasing by 4% or more in June, July, and August, compared to the same months in 2018.

Only 250K

250

A quarter of a million women work in the trades.

Of the 165 million working in the trades, women make up 250K. Our goal is to narrow that gap!

Only 3.4%

In 2018, fewer than one in twenty (3.4%) of construction trades workers were women working with tools.

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Testimonials

“TWI provides a much needed avenue for women getting in the trades, and they also provide comradery for women who are working in the trades already. As a 28 year steamfitter, its great to that I can particpate in an organization that provides support to women apprentices.”

TGSteamfitter, UA342

“The best feeling is getting paid for something you love doing.”

Raquel LeonbergerAutomotive Pre-Apprentice