Living in the modern age has made people more open-minded and accepting and they are embracing differences more than ever before. Younger generations have especially gone a long way to change tradition, embrace equality, and eliminate many stereotypes.
As beautiful as this is, there are still many industries and careers that are male-dominated. Industries such as science, engineering, construction, and technology offer higher entry-level wages but are also the ones in which females are extremely underrepresented.
Due to various factors, many female individuals have never dreamed of pursuing a career that is not a traditional one. These factors might include never being encouraged to explore a more non-traditional occupation, gender gap, and the glass ceiling.
For those who are unfamiliar with the terminology, the term the glass ceiling is used to describe the unreachable barrier that prevents women from advancing in their careers and climbing up the corporate ladder no matter their achievements and qualifications. The gender gap refers to the inequality of income between males and females who have the same jobs and qualifications.
Luckily, times are changing, now more than ever, and a growing number of women are venturing into non-traditional industries in search of higher-paying jobs and better opportunities. If you are unsure what it means, non-traditional female occupations are ones where about ¾ of industry professionals are male.
You might be wondering which of the non-traditional occupations are becoming extremely popular, so here are just a few that have a high demand for female workers.
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1. Truck Drivers
Source: Just in Time Expedition
Although retailers heavily rely on trucking for the distribution of goods, due to automation and self-driving vehicles, there might be no need for truck drivers anymore. However, the technology is still undeveloped and, likely, that a lot of trucking companies will not adopt such systems for a variety of reasons.
Only about 6.2 percent of drivers are female and since the industry is always in demand for new employees, truck driving might be a good and interesting career choice for some. It is a very flexible occupation that offers you the freedom and a chance to travel.
2. Technology Industry
Source: Insider
Throughout history, boys and men have been encouraged to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, something known as STEM, where women have not. However, in recent years, many schools have developed programs to encourage and support girls who are interested in pursuing a career in one of the STEM fields in the future.
Moreover, many women in high positions, such as the CEO of YouTube Susan Wojcicki, are serving as role models to younger girls. Many companies have also committed to developing a more gender-balanced workforce which means that females can now easier pursue careers such as computer programming, software developing, database administration, and web developing.
3. Skilled Trades
Source: Hartigan
Professions such as electrician, carpenter, plumber, welders, and the likes are historically and culturally a man’s job. With proper training and skill, women could easily break into the field, but to this day, many are still wary of entering the industry.
When it comes to numbers, around 5.2 percent of females are welders, 2.9 construction workers, 2% are electricians, and 1.9 percent are carpenters. According to the Plumbers Emergency website, plumbing is the occupation in which women are the scarcest.
Other interesting fields include construction managers, aircraft mechanics, and oil and gas workers.
4. Media Arts
Source: Twitter
The industry is perfect for individuals who have technical skills but are also creative and artistic. Although you might consider this to be a field dominated by females, it might be shocking to hear that men hold the most positions in this industry too.
Recent surveys have shown that individuals are becoming more and more interested in working in the media art sector, especially as a video game designer, multimedia artist, and graphic designer.
5. Automotive Industry
Source: InAutomotive Blog
Only 2 percent of the industry’s professionals are women. There is a lot of space for confident and strong females to make their mark in the industry. There are so many fields to choose from, so if you are interested in venturing into the field, find something that you truly love to do and continue striving for success.
Some of the most interesting ones include becoming an auto designer, a motorcycle mechanic, and many more.
6. Architecture and Engineering
Source: Twitter
Although female representation has risen in the field of architecture, there is still a long way to go when it comes to engineering. However, an increasing number of female individuals have received prestigious prizes for their industry contributions. This has spurred on a new generation of aspiring women to pursue careers that include architectural and civil drafting, industrial designing, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering as well.
7. Green Energy
Source: Of The Live Forever
The Green Energy sector is still a young industry that is continuously developing. Similarly to engineering, there are not enough female professionals in the sector due to several reasons. And since the need for renewable resource energy is increasing each year, this might be the perfect opportunity for more women to enter the field.
This is a great choice for someone who wants to contribute to developing a more sustainable and healthier environment for future generations.
The number of solar energy installations is expected to rise drastically in the next 3 years, meaning that there will be an increased demand for skilled employees. This is great because it gives females a bigger window to pursue a career in the solar energy or wind energy sector.
Changing the Future
No matter your career path remember that you should always go for something that makes you happy. By choosing a non-traditional occupation that fulfills you will also be an inspiration to any girl who wants to do the same in the future.
This is a great way of showing young people that it is completely okay to sometimes ignore tradition and pursue a career they are passionate about, no matter how unusual or unconventional it is.
Conclusion
With how things are progressing each year, it is evident that some of these professions might soon be female-dominated. After all, there is nothing a woman cannot do if she works hard, puts in the effort, and is determined to succeed at all costs.
