Throughout industry, there is a lack of available talent to fill welding positions and other skilled trades. An estimated 2.4 million job openings in manufacturing will go unfulfilled between 2018 and 2028, and women make up the largest pool of untapped talent. As part of our International Women’s Day celebration, WiM-Virginia is partnering with NSRP to host a series of focus groups to study methods for increasing recruitment of women welders in industry.

Focus group participants will discuss reasons why women are reluctant to join the welding trade, explore current recruiting practices targeting women and young females, share industry best practices, and explore existing training programs specific to women. The goal of this project is to study the issues in the welding labor market facing women, and how to tailor recruitment and training efforts to increase the number of women who are hired and trained int he welding field.

Who should participate?
If you employ, recruit, train, or have a vested interest in closing the gender gap in the welding labor force, we want to hear from you!

Two opportunities: March 10 11:30am – 1:00pm or March 17 9:00am-10:30am

Sign up: https://form.jotform.com/210175791884969

Find out more: Women in Welding Focus Group Flyer
https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/events/wim-virginia–women-in-welding-focus-group-1