Who Wields the Hammer?

Electricians, construction workers, plumbers, power plant technicians, heavy equipment operators: all these and more make up the 'skilled trades.' Such jobs typically offer some of the best pay for workers without a college degree. These skilled trades make up almost 30% of our economy - and have historically been all male. Today, women hold only 4% of these jobs. (Take that, Rosie the Riveter.) Why? Sue Hoffman is our guest to plumb (!) this topic. Sue has spent a lifetime working to expand workforces for women. She brings a wealth of experience, including as a consultant, the head of Women in Nontraditional Careers Initiative in Philadelphia, and as a tradeswoman herself. Listen in to learn about some of the biggest impediments to getting more women into more skilled trades. And, spoiler alert, it's not hiring discrimination.

Resources:

Equity Resource Center – Chicago Women in Trades

Construction Careers - Build Your Future

Career Cluster videos

Intro to Apprenticeship

Oregon Tradeswomen Earn Good Money

Turner Named One of America’s Best Employers for Women by Forbes | Insights

Quick Data on Women Working in Construction, 2015 to 2024 (Institute for Women's Policy Research, Aug 2025)