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.]
