More women are looking to the trades for a career and an upcoming forum at Thompson Rivers University will help women learn about what their options are.

Whether it’s welding, electrical or a myriad of other options, women are looking at the trades as opposed to traditional office jobs for a career.

TRU’s Manager of Industry and Contract Training, Heather Hamilton was on the NL Morning News and pointed out the advantages of young women choosing their career paths at a young age. “We have a really good relationship with School District 73 as other post secondary’s do throughout the province as well.”

“So we have trade samplers in the high schools. The students are able to try a variety of trades and it goes towards their high school diploma.”

Hamilton says there’s one trade that seems to be popular with young women. “You know, there’s a few different reasons that we hear from the women. Welding allows you to be creative as well so the women really enjoy that.”

“Women have a very good hand/eye coordination. For many years there’s been a fair amount of welders and we’re seeing more and more women coming into that sector as well.”

Hamilton added the choices for women are expanding. “We’ve recently added some new trades programs up at TRU and those include power engineering. We have instrumentation. We also have air conditioning and refrigeration and we’re seeing women very interested in those trades too.”

The forum goes Tuesday night at TRU’s Trades and Technology building at 6PM.

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