Start Your Engines: Career Exploration, Skilled Trades, and Women Leading the Race

At NACCE, our mission is to engage members through entrepreneurial thinking and innovative action. This month’s SkillPointe theme, “Driven by Skills: Accelerating Career Pathways in the Trades,” embodies that mission by focusing on trade jobs, career exploration, technology, and workforce pathways. Just like any great race, the journey of career discovery begins at the starting line. For many young people, Junior Achievement is the perfect place to spark that first moment of possibility. When young women see career opportunities in skilled trades such as technology, manufacturing, public service, transportation, and energy, they can begin to envision themselves in roles they might not have considered before.

 

Trade jobs turn that curiosity into action by connecting learners with valuable information about well-paying trades, the best trade jobs, and potential career options in the trades. SkillPointe's data reveals a strong interest in searches like “trade jobs, highest paying trade jobs, best trades, and trade school jobs, along with a list of trades for females without a degree.” This highlights the importance of making skills-based career information visible, accessible, and inspiring.

 

As SkillPointe prepares to attend and exhibit at the Richmond Raceway during the August Cook Out 400 NASCAR Cup Series weekend, the race-day analogy is quite fitting. NASCAR relies on skilled trades, teamwork, precision, and leadership. With Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran leading the charge, this serves as a prime example that women belong in every lane, from the pit crew to the boardroom, on the shop floor, or crossing the finish line.

-Dr. Kevin Logan