Women in the Trades
Sign Up Now for Free Training - Women in the Trades Program
The Women in the Trades program has helped women just like you make a better future for themselves.
Contact us at Alaska Works Partnership today and let us help connect you to training resources that fit your goals.
Free Training for Women
More and more women each year are entering the construction field for better jobs and better pay. The Women in the Trades program provides hands-on training to help women transition into a well-paying construction career and offers the same training opportunities in a female-only learning environment.
Our focus is on providing unique outreach and training events designed by women employed in construction. These activities inform girls and women about construction work, apprenticeship opportunities, and provide pre-apprentice courses for exploring a trade. If you're interested in developing skills that can lead to a high-paying job and an excellent career, the Women in the Trades program is for you.
Training for a well-paying construction career
Current Available Trainings:
Anchorage and Mat-Su:
- WIT Heavy Equipment Operating coming in July/August 2024
Fairbanks:
- WIT Intro to Welding: May 9th - 10th, 2024; Thursday - Friday 8AM to 4:30PM
- WIT Heavy Equipment Operating coming in July/August 2024
Watch our Women in the Trades Video
WIT - Truck Driver Apprenticeship Success
In a recent Women in the Trades initiative, four participants successfully completed the rigorous WIT Truck Driver training and earned an invitation to the Teamsters apprenticeship program. This highly sought-after training requires candidates to hold a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) and undergo a thorough selection process.
During the one-week training, participants learned essential skills such as safe vehicle operation, basic skill progression, and fundamental backing techniques necessary for professional trucking. All four women excelled in their final exams, showcasing their proficiency in these areas.
Aifi, coming from a background in grocery warehousing, saw the apprenticeship as a means to achieve her goal of becoming a truck driver. Genevie, a single mother, aimed to establish a career to support herself and her children. Rayne, a former military member, sought to obtain her Class A License to transport various goods across Alaska. Maxie, transitioning from banking to truck driving, seized the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream.
Among the four, three secured spots in the Construction Driver apprenticeship, while one was accepted into the Freight driver apprenticeship. Their diverse backgrounds and shared determination exemplify the growing presence of women in traditionally male-dominated fields.
While serving at restaurants and other various jobs were paying the bills, it wasn’t satisfying the career urge for Caitlin. After completing a handful of training opportunities at AWP including Electrical Wiring, Structural Welding, Metal Studs Framing/Sheetrock & Taping, Telecommunications, First Aid/CPR/AED, and OSHA-10, she was 100% sure of her long-time passion to pursue a career in Telecommunications.
Caitlin was accepted into the IBEW Telecommunications apprenticeship and dispatched to work right away.
~Caitlin Richmond
Bella first came to Alaska Works in September 2018 and started with our Carpentry and Framing training. She then proceeded to take our Ironwork and Welding, Plumbing, Pipefitting & Welding, Electrical Wiring and most recently Telecommunications training.
With a variety of new skills, Bella was able to secure employment with Colony Builders as a carpenter assistant/expediter. Expediting materials to job sites, and helping with the processes of home building, Bella is making $22 an hour.
~Bella Owens
“My experience was unforgettably educational. I walked away with confidence in some basics and given much enthusiastic encouragement for joining future classes and apprenticeships. ”
~Dominique Johnson
“I had such an enjoyable time. I've always had an interest in the trades, but never knew about any opportunities until a client of mine referred me to these trainings. I went from knowing nothing about electricity to assembling breaker boxes, running wires, installing conduit, etc... It's very empowering to have learned so much in such little time. Hiram Pendergrass kept the class interesting, using humor and personal stories to make the work relatable. We were able to progress at a quick speed, even with 12 students with varying levels of experience. 10/10 the best formal training experience I've had.”
~Hannah Barcus