Will women help bridge the gap in the skilled trades workforce?

Source: WXXI News (Connections with Evan Dawson) Published: March 25, 2026

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As part of WXXI’s Women’s History Month programming, Connections with Evan Dawson featured local women welders and welding students discussing their experiences pursuing careers in the skilled trades. Guests included a student in the metal trades program at Genesee Valley BOCES in Mount Morris, a student at Edison Career and Technology High School in Rochester, a welding teacher at Edison, an artist and instructor at Ironwood Studios, and the deputy director of the Livingston County Workforce Development and Youth Bureau. Industry experts say demand for skilled trades workers is at an all-time high, and there is an increasing push for women to fill those gaps. The episode focused on how these women view their career paths, the opportunities available to them, and the job prospects in a field where women remain underrepresented nationwide.