Trade School Programs for Women

Women in various trade careers

2025 snapshot: women’s share in skilled trades

Women now hold 11.5% of construction jobs, up from around 9% a decade ago, according to Construction Coverage, a website that specializes in researching construction software, insurance, and related services. This increase is thanks to focused diversity hiring initiatives, WANTO (Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations) grants, and expanded access to trade school for women. While the national percentage is improving, regional hot spots show even stronger progress; for example, some Florida metro areas report more than 16% female representation in the trades. These gains are directly tied to targeted outreach, community-driven training efforts, and the visibility of trade schools for women across the country.

This growth is especially critical as the skilled-trades industry faces a projected shortage of more than half a million workers in the coming years. Closing that gap will require both increased recruitment and expanded training pathways for women, including specialized trade school programs for women and dedicated scholarships.

Our Boatbuilding & Restoration program at IYRS is a great example. It provides students of all genders with hands-on training in the full wooden boatbuilding process. Under the guidance of expert woodworkers and boatbuilders, you’ll collaborate with fellow craftspeople while developing skills that prepare you for careers not only in boatbuilding and restoration, but also in marine carpentry, furniture making, historic preservation, construction, and beyond.

The advantages of skilled trades for women

There are many advantages of a career in a skilled trade.

Get hired sooner

Skilled trades require specialized knowledge and training and can lead to a thriving, high-demand career in a shorter timeline than many other fields. At IYRS, our programs take between six and 20 months to complete. Since our course of study includes an externship, students graduate with on-the-job experience to add to their resumes. This combination of knowledge, skill, and experience can help make it easier for women in skilled trades to land a job upon graduation.

Better return for your investment and less student loan debt

Thanks to the shorter duration of the program, most trade school students (including IYRS students) graduate with a smaller amount of student loan debt than those who earn a four-year degree. 

Focus on your interests

A trade school has the added benefit of allowing students to focus on the area of expertise they want to learn, avoiding the general courses most two- or four-year schools require.

Work, your way

Desk job not for you? Love to work with your hands, outside, away from an office setting? A skilled trade is the answer. The traditional career paths proposed to women are certainly not the only options, and a skilled trade can be the answer for those women who want to escape the confines of a desk.

Examples of women in skilled trades

There are many modern, everyday examples of women in trades, including the maritime trades, which need to be highlighted to encourage women who want to follow in their footsteps. Representation is impactful. 

Check out the latest Women Making Waves article highlighting outstanding women in the boating industry.
 

Trailblazer spotlight

Bolling F. Douglas was an influential figure in the marine industry, widely recognized for her contributions to marine safety and standardization. She was the first female accredited by the National Association of Marine Surveyors in 1975 and served as the senior marine safety expert in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. She was also the first female Coast Guard Auxiliary Qualification Examiner. She played a pivotal role in advancing the work of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), particularly in the areas of boat design, construction, and repair. Her work significantly shaped the safety standards that are taught in technical programs across the country including the IYRS Marine Systems program today. 

Future-proof trades: wind, marine & composites on the rise

The next decade will bring rapid expansion in several high-demand skilled-trade sectors that align directly with IYRS’s programs.

  • Wind Turbine Technicians: Projected 60% job growth from 2023–2033, making it the fastest-growing occupation in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This creates significant opportunities for women pursuing trade jobs in renewable energy.
  • Carbon-Fiber Composites: The market is expected to triple—from $25.6 billion to $72.3 billion by 2035—driven by a 10.9% CAGR (Future Market Insights), fueling demand for composites technicians and offering promising trade school careers for females.
  • Marine Engineers & Naval Architects: An expected 8% employment increase by 2033 will boost demand for graduates skilled in Marine Systems, making these ideal trade programs for women interested in engineering and design.

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is uniquely positioned to meet these needs:

  • Marine Systems (6 months): Prepares students for roles in marine engineering, systems installation, and repair, perfect for women seeking a trade school for girls focused on maritime careers.
  • Composites Technology (9 months): Equips graduates to work with carbon fiber, fiberglass, and advanced manufacturing methods such as wet layup, vacuum bagging, and prepreg materials, making it one of the most forward-looking trade school programs for women.
  • Digital Modeling & Fabrication (9 months): Builds skills in additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, CNC router, mill, lathe, and prototyping for marine, aerospace, and renewable-energy applications, aligning with modern trade jobs that value design and innovation.

By focusing on these rapidly growing industries, IYRS ensures graduates, especially those from a trade school, are ready to thrive in the skilled trades of the future.

Remove barriers to women in skilled trades

One way to remove barriers is to provide funding to make it easier for women to gain the education they need to enter the workforce.

Women can look for scholarships that have been created for women in skilled trades, including IYRS’s scholarship for women (see Boatbuilding and Marine Systems scholarship sections on our financial aid page) as well as the following:

Considering a trade career? Learn more about what IYRS has to offer.

IYRS School of Technology & Trades offers four programs ranging in duration from 6 to 20 months. Each program allows students to continue growing as a person and make the most of their gap year. Depending on the program, enrollment takes place in March and/or September each year.

Marine Systems
Marine Systems is a 6-month program during which students learn how to install, repair, and troubleshoot all aspects of a boat’s systems, from the engine to electrical to hydraulics and plumbing, preparing them to become in-demand marine technicians or to provide a solid foundation that becomes a springboard to a career as an engineer or entrepreneur.

Composites Technology
Composites Technology is a 9-month program that teaches students to design and build with advanced materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, and epoxy, preparing them for careers in some of the world's most exciting industries like aerospace, yacht building, automotive, sporting goods, and wind energy. 

Digital Modeling & Fabrication
Digital Modeling & Fabrication is a 9-month program that teaches students about design thinking, generating innovative solutions, and how to utilize 3D modeling software like SOLIDWORKS®, Mastercam and RHINO while also gaining knowledge in using CNC mills and lathes. You will design and build a capstone project before concluding the program with an industry externship.

Boatbuilding & Restoration
Boatbuilding & Restoration is a 20-month program that is dedicated to the craft and related disciplines of boatbuilding and marine woodworking. Students gain knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience as they prepare for a rewarding career in the boatbuilding and repair industry.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Wind turbine technicians: Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Marine engineers and naval architects: Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/marine-engineers-and-naval-architects.htm

Future Market Insights. (2023). Carbon fiber composites market outlook (2023–2035). Future Market Insights. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

Construction Coverage. (2024). Women in construction statistics. Construction Coverage. https://constructioncoverage.com