GREENFIELD, Wis. — During National Apprenticeship Week, Steamfitters Local 601 in Greenfield highlighted its goal to turn apprentices into welders.
While the profession is still dominated by men, women are seeing more opportunities in the field.
Mara Sakac is a trainee in the Accelerated Welding Program at Steamfitters Local 601.
This is a skill she has been focused on developing for a few years now.
“I started welding when I was in high school,” said Sakac. “I went to Slinger High School in Washington County and they have shop classes there and I did some welding.”
Sakac has already become a standout in the field. She recently won the Tradeswomen Hero Award from North America’s Building Trades Unions.
“My dad has taught me a lot of things ever since I was young and he fixes machines and stuff like that and I thought all of that stuff was interesting and I used to weld at a different place and he told me to do this because of the money,” said Sakac.
It highlights the growing trend of more women pursuing careers in the trades. According to Apprenticeship USA, female apprenticeships doubled from 2014 to 2022.
However, women still only make up 14% of all apprenticeships.
Sakac said that number should continue to grow.
“I think more women should do it,” said Sakac. “I know some women are scared to do it. They think they cannot do it and that’s not the case. You can do it.”
Joshua Jirik is in the Apprenticeship Program at Steamfitters Local 601. He said his experience has helped him better understand the value of apprenticeship programs.
“All the different trades that go into a single building,” said Jirik. “There’s not just one or two. I mean, you got your fitters, your electricians, your drywallers, your generation construction crew, your laborers. There’s a lot of different hands that go into a building project and it’s kinda cool to see just all of the cooperation and teamwork that it takes to put something up nowadays.”
Sakac said learning to weld has also helped her become more independent.
“You can take this information you learn and fix stuff on your own,” said Sakac. “Stuff even in your own home. You can do your own hot water heater and stuff like that. I mean, it’s all similar.”
When Sakac finishes the Accelerated Welding Program, she said she hopes to use her skills to travel.