Publication Sneak Peek: Instructional Leader This segment features content from other AAEA publications. Instructional Leader is a quarterly publication available to districts on a subscription basis. The following article can be found in the December 2021 edition.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL! Southwest Arkansas Collaborates for Nontraditional Career Exploration Contributor: Stacey Southerland, Career & Technical Education Coordinator, DeQueen-Mena ESC Occupations are considered nontraditional by the Department of Labor if its workforce comprises less than 25% of one gender, this means many employers are making a more concerted effort to hire equal numbers of women and men — particularly in jobs and industries that have been dominated by one gender in the past. Nontraditional careers are a way for females to have an edge on the job market, with many of our skilled labor positions retiring, females with training and certainly credentialing, have a wide range of opportunities for lucrative careers that are not traditional.
those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The entry level education is a high school diploma, most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, but some start out by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to be licensed. 4.
Welder. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products. A high school diploma or equivalent, combined with technical and on-the-job training, is typically required for anyone to become a welder, OOH reports that there were 418,200 jobs available as a welder in 2020.
5.
Firefighter. Whether they're on a volunteer basis or officially employed by the city, firefighters must respond and help deal with many scenarios, including fires, car accidents, and other emergency situations. NBC News reports, less than 5 percent of career firefighters across the country are women, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
6.
Engineer. This job can include anything from mechanical engineering to civil engineering. OOH reports that by 2030 there will be 146,000 new jobs projected. Most of the projected job growth in this group will be in the engineer occupations, those services will be in demand in areas such as rebuilding of infrastructure, renewable energy, oil and gas extraction, and robotics. The education required depends on the specific occupation, but ranges from an associates degree to a bachelors. The average salary for an engineer was $83,160 in May 2020.
7.
Police officer. Police officers are important members of the community who patrol neighborhoods, respond to emergency calls, and work to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens. Education requirements to enter the occupation
Examples of Nontraditional Careers for Women 1.
Heavy equipment operator. Heavy equipment operators use machines like bulldozers and backhoes to move materials and excavate sites for building. An increasing number of women are entering the construction industry by filling heavy equipment operator roles. Women comprise approximately 9% of the construction industry, according to BLS data, and most of them work in administrative roles.
2.
Automotive technician. Mechanics work on vehicles doing preventive maintenance, such as flushing fluids and replacing rotors, as well as repairing and replacing parts damaged from accidents or just regular wear and tear. As cars have gotten smarter, and automotive jobs have become more tech-based, more women have entered the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of women in the automotive repair and maintenance industry is 9.9% as of 2019, which grew from 7.3% back in 2015, and 1.4% back in 1999.
3.
Electrician. Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), about 84,700 openings for electricians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of
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