Women in Trades Career Fair

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Women in Trades panel
Cristi Sawtell of IBEW Local 125 talks about her job as a journey-level lineman at Bonneville Power Administration at the 22nd annual Women in Trades Fair. Joining her on stage to talk about their respective crafts are to her left: Angela Couture of Iron Workers Local 29 and Carrie Bowers of IBEW Local 48.
A popular booth at the fair lets participants operate a jack-hammer. Helping out is Laborers Apprenticeship Coordinator Aida Aranda, a member of Laborers Local 296. She has volunteered to help at the fair for the last five years.
A popular booth at the fair lets participants operate a jackhammer. Helping out is Laborers Apprenticeship Coordinator Aida Aranda, a member of Laborers Local 296. She has volunteered to help at the fair for the last five years.

More than 2,000 women and teenagers were introduced to careers in “non-traditional” trades such as construction worker, lineman, and firefighter at the 22nd annual Women in Trades Career Fair held May 8-10 in Northeast Portland.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) produces the interactive, three-day fair to increase the number of women working in the trades, and to help fill the gap in the labor force that will be created with record-levels of upcoming retirements of skilled trades people. OTI said that women make up about 7 percent of those employed in non-traditional trades in Oregon  — which is double the national average.

Seventy exhibitors had booths at this year’s fair, including employers, government agencies, apprenticeship programs, and community and technical colleges.

[More images here.]

 

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