Area 8th, 9th and 10th grade female students, selected by their school districts, had the chance to participate in a mini career expo to discover pathways in the trades at WSWHE BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers on December 10 and 11, 2024.
Fun and engaging hands-on activities were offered to educate and inform female students about the earning potential, career opportunities and educational resources that are available to them. Current CTE students were guides for the day by offering their perspectives as young tradeswomen. Business partners talked about career potential and answered questions.
"We recognize the value young women have in meeting the workforce demands of our region; and we are not alone. Through a collaborative effort with our component school districts and business partners, the WSWHE BOCES has put a focus on recruiting, retaining, and supporting young women in the trades. Our hope is to encourage young women to see themselves in non-traditional programs by creating opportunities for them to experience the trades with a fresh perspective," said Jared Davis, Director of Career and Technical Education, WSWHE BOCES.
The US Department of Labor Statistics reports that women are substantially underrepresented (relative to their share of total employment) in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, utilities and other skilled trades. The jobs that are available and will become available are suffering a shortage and women can help fill those gaps.
"Our goal is to help young women find a path to a successful career, through the trades. Events like this provide insight into the many opportunities that exist within the trades," said Davis.
Find more photos of each event on our social media channels.