What trade jobs can Women find the most satisfaction?

Have you thought of joining the trade as a woman?

Are you still hesitant to barge into the workforce of a male-dominated field?

We know how you feel. 

According to Aaron Barnett of BangingToolbox: In modern times like today, it is still unlikely for us to see a woman in an overall or hi-vis while wearing a hard hat and safety boots.

It’s hard to imagine a woman wearing a toolbelt as a cape or a hammer drill like a weapon.

But with the thought of learning and trying new and practical skills, where you can fix and do things by yourself without needing to wait for the help of a man, doesn’t it excite you?

Imagine when you thought you could not drill into concrete. Or when you can, after all, replace or repair the faucet by yourself.

Isn’t it empowering knowing you can, after all, climb up to the top of a truss and fasten beams? 

You wouldn’t know yourcapabilities until you join the trade as a woman and learn professionally.

If you have no idea, you can train in a wide range of industries that weld power tools and require you to think, problem-solve, build, and deliver the jobs clients want in a social, indoor, or outdoor environment.

The world has come too far to take steps backward. Our ancestors have fought long enough so women today can finally say, “We can do this too!” 

It’s about time women truly open their minds! To endless possibilities and opportunities for women in the trade industry.

The diverse career opportunities in trade for women

For recommended trade careers for women, look at our quick list.

Below are career opportunities that concerned organizations in different states and localities offer for women.

Yup! More government organizations are investing in training women to join the trade. Want proof? Check your local unions.

You will be surprised how easy it is to train for most of these jobs, and some options don’t require you to be extremely physical… or be a man.

With the appropriate training, you can pull this off and prepare your mind and body for the challenge. 

And if you have no idea, these jobs are more convenient because they mostly require specialized skills to operate machines, equipment, and tools.

No heavy lifting because the machines will do it for you. All you need to do is to train how to operate tools and machinery safely. Think of rollers, forklifts, cranes, and diggers.

Let’s check my reccomedned trades for women one by one.

1. Electrician

Electricians install, inspect, maintain, and repair electrical systems and lines for electrically-powered establishments, homes, and buildings. 

If you still think you might be the only woman to take a chance in the electrical trade, it’s a mistake.

According to Zippia [1], there are already 27,020 female electricians employed in the U.S. as of 2022.” This number will grow as more women will train and join the electrical trade.

2. Joiner and cabinet maker

A joiner and cabinet maker specializes in crafting and installing cabinets, furniture, and other wooden fixtures and doesn’t require heavy lifting but instead accurate control and measurements of machinery.

Cabinet makers and joiners plan, design, and build cabinetry and kitchen units in the factory to then install them on site.

They meticulously select the wood to use and apply the appropriate woodworking technique to achieve the intended designs.

Even though this job looks easier than an onsite carpenter, you cannot match the woodworking skills of a joiner and cabinet maker. They still work with wood, carry wood, work with power tools.

Because of their enthusiasm for wood, they work with more detail.

Joinery work is losing some traditional touch and needs more creativity and quality bought to the industry. Will you take on the challenge?

3. Painter and decorator

A painter or decorator takes charge of transforming newly constructed structures, homes, and buildings and designs to make them habitable spaces.

Painting looks easy, but it takes special skills to paint a wall for architectural homes. A painter makes a builder look good or bad, and good painters are prioritized. 

New paints no longer contain hazardous lead, and water-based paints are mostly used. It’s a stress-free job.

Imagine how you can use your attention to detail, creativity, and artistry on a job that we thought was only suitable for men.

4. Landscaper

Landscaping is not just planting and designing a magnificent garden design.

Landscaping is actually an intensive workout. There is more physical work in landscaping than in carpentry, but being in the garden might make you feel more creative. 

Beneath the beautiful plant beds are hands that dug soils and lifted soil bags. Imagine the hard work of moving mulches, solids, and rocks. 

But if you take a start in landscaping, you will know how to plan and design property and know the techniques to produce an enchanting garden space.

This stuff is not just for men and can be an entry into carpentry work as you may build decks, fences, chairs, tables, pathways, and driveways.

5. Carpenter

The people who built our homes. If you have the chance to learn how to make one for others, would you take it? 

A lot of men are taken aback at construction sites when they see women doing actual carpentry. 

If you have no idea, many groups of women are founding their movements to encourage more women to join the field. 

There are about 10.9% of women in the construction workforce in 2022 according to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). [2]

As someone that works in the industry, I think these numbers are for your comfort. However, over the last three years, there has definitely been a fast uptake of women joining surrounding trade industries and carpentry.

And we suspect women in carpentry will rapidly grow as women switch from sub-trade jobs to carpentry. And as the industry adopts to keep women happy in the trade.

Even if there may be times with no other women around, wouldn’t it be refreshing? And why does it really matter anyway? It’s your choice you don’t have to do what every other girl is doing.

Many building companies love having women join the workforce.

Expect the support you need, and understand that everyone brings different values to the field.

6. Automotive mechanic

Another specialized trade dominated by men is automotive mechanics. These are the people who inspect, evaluate, maintain, and repair automobiles.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there are 12.1 women employed in automotive repair and maintenance [3].

See? Who would’ve thought that women could go under the engines and actually repair automotive parts rather than just take a photo?

7. Other promising trade skills to try

If you are still on the look for trade skills that fit you, here are more of them:

• Plumber/ gas fitter
• Engineer/ metal fabrication and welding
• Roofer/ Sheet metal worker
• Mason
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Plasterer and glazier
• Auto Electrician
• Specialized trades can get paid well – Installing and maintaining commercial ovens (expect to see a few rats). Installing lifts, air conditioning, and heating units.

Breaking stereotypes and misconceptions about the women in the trade

Throughout the years, the trades we’ve spoken about above have been dominated by men in recent years. This culture can lead to certain misconceptions about women’s capacity and ability to excel in their chosen fields.

Let’s correct them today.

1. Women are capable.

The fact that women obtain certifications in the trade through training and apprenticeships means they can work onsite.

It’s a shame if some men still won’t allow women to build, perform, or work with their team.

But the women who became trained performed the jobs required at trade school and in actual working environments, trained to diagnose and perform actual problem-solving solutions, and passed the training set for certification.

2. Women can perform physically demanding jobs.

Today, women can build strength and train their bodies to become physically capable. Women can build muscle through practice and physical training.

Your body gets used to the work after a few months.

3. Women naturally prioritize safety.

This natural trait of a woman can be especially beneficial for the team.

Especially for working environments like construction sites, manufacturing plants with industrial machines, or even automotive service centers pose safety risks. Women can be meticulous when it comes to safety.

4. Women can lead.

There is always a perception that men are better leaders. In reality, women can possess leadership and management skills equal to men.

In fact, women can have unique decision-making skills that are softer yet direct and fair.

5. Women can fit into predominantly male work environments.

Yes. Women can be intimidating in this kind of workplace. In some cases, men can be uncomfortable with women around.

In worst-case scenarios, we see women being mistreated. But slowly, we are seeing more inclusive workplaces.

We can find workspaces in the trade that welcome diverse perspectives, inputs, and experiences helpful for their strategies at work.

The role of women in economic empowerment

Here are more reasons for you to join the trade.

What if we tell you that women take a significant role in boosting a country’s economy? That’s right. When a woman joins the labor force, the nation’s GDP increases [4]. 

Are you in?

An inclusive government makes a balanced, sound, and sustainable society because women can participate in work. These allow a country to thrive and grow its resources and earn more.

A society becomes healthy and sustainable when:

• Women have equal access to education and skills development.
• Women have equal job opportunities.
• Women can be entrepreneurs and own and run a business.
• The society is close to eliminating gender pay gaps.
• Women can lead, manage, and participate in decision-making in government, businesses, and non-government organizations.

The surprising earning potential of women in trade

Women can have unlimited earning potential in a trade.

Although we know that up to date, there are still gender-based pay gaps, however, it is not that far.

For example, women in construction earn 95.5 % of how much men take home.

For automotive technicians, women make 96 cents [5] for every dollar a man makes. That’s not a huge gap.

In general, a woman’s earning potential in trade depends on factors such as skill level and experience, industry demand and supply, and support from the organization.

We can still say non-union apprentices still enjoy the perks from the contracts of unions.

Most companies today have to provide competitive salaries to attract more tradies.

And if you truly had the balls, you could end up like those female journeymen who made themselves self-employed, formed a team of women-skilled tradies, and ran their own trade business.

Imagine the earning potential when you are already self-employed and the only one that can fix broken ovens.

Trade skills are always on demand.

The US still has a shortage of skilled tradespeople, like most other countries right now, as men are getting soft. You can easily travel while you work and get a visa in a range of countries as a carpenter.

While the industry is predicted to grow by 10%, about three million positions will be open up to 2028.

Apart from that, there are still 500,000 job positions open in manufacturing. Look at all these opportunities that women can fill.

Earn as you learn

Going on the path of trade enables one to become more productive and earn while learning. The apprenticeship program allows you to learn while on the job and practice your chosen skill while learning. It will take 3-4 years to learn how to build a house.

Although some parts of the training consist of a classroom setup, you will not suffer from financial burdens such as student debt.

Because the program enables you to generate income, the program helps you offset training expenses and avoid reliance on debt. You can more easily travel and work abroad when you get qualified and renovate your own home.

Opportunities for independence and self-employment

One thing unique for women is their organization, communication, and networking skills that you can use when you have gained substantial experience in the trade.

You can set up your own business, diversify service offers, create personal branding, form partnerships, and make yourself self-employed. 

This path is especially true for women looking for inclusivity but failing to prove themselves because of the male-dominant culture in the workplace.

In some cases, women choose not to depend on these jobs and decide to create jobs for themselves and other women in trade.

Satisfaction and fulfilment

There is pride in your own work. 

If there’s anything more priceless for a woman in a trade, it is the ability to do, fix, diagnose problems, build, create, or repair to the best of your ability.

Your individual presence as a woman in your trade is pride in itself.

Being a woman that can break into a workforce dominated by men provides opportunities to develop and master your skills yourself.

The tangible results from every project completed are something you can be really proud of.

The satisfaction of fulfilling projects in building work is different from being able to complete the repetitive tasks you’ve had in the office.

For every project, there is room for reimagining things.

For every repair order, you can test your problem-solving skills. In the industry, there is always a challenge, and there is always fulfillment.

Test out the waters.

Before I started a construction training course and my apprenticeship, I phoned building companies from the yellow pages and asked to volunteer for a few days so I could get a feel for the job. You can also ask to volunteer to get some work experience so you can decide if starting an apprenticeship is right for you.

Additionally, some females entering the building space are getting employed as trade assistants.

Men often start out as construction labours to get onto a building site in hopes of being offered an apprenticeship, the trade assistant role, is there to help females bypass the physical demands that may be required as a labourer and to work more directly as an apprentice would.

This is a controversial issue for fairness, but as the number of women entering the workforce is low, it is currently accepted to help women get into the trades.

You can also start off in an assistant role and get comfortable on a building site without any pressure before deciding if you want to start an apprenticeship. For help moving into an apprenticeship position, read my guide here.

You can bring a lot into the trade.

Here’s how you, as a woman, can make organizational units in trade healthy.

As a woman with diverse perspectives, you can utilize your communication skills and engage in trade collaborations and partnerships. 

As a woman with special attention to detail, you can train and master calculating distances, installing frames and studs, assembling drawers into cabinets, or planning and drawing blueprints for architects to fix.   

Your abilities are not limited to beauty trades, in the kitchen, or in the office.

You can take note of signs and symptoms, perform diagnostic tests, assess damages, and perform repair and maintenance. 

Many students that are now starting to rack up student loan debt at universities are becoming anxious about the coming developments of artificial intelligence and job automation in the future.

You can put yourself ahead of other women and pave the way and get qualified first.

You can adapt to changes and transitions between new tasks and still be able to take on and handle new challenges. You can work with men professionally and still be able to excel. In fact, you can just be yourself! Where you might feel like you have to constantly supplicate in an office environment.

Women can influence people to collaborate and create an inclusive environment where everyone can participate. And for that, there’s no reason for a woman like you to be excluded in the trade.