Governor Maura Healey spoke at the 10th Annual Massachusetts Girls in Trades Eastern Conference & Career Fair, an event connecting high school girls from Greater Boston with professionals in the union construction trades. The conference encourages students to explore careers in fields where women remain underrepresented.
According to the Massachusetts government website, Governor Healey emphasized that trade careers offer stable pay, good benefits, and opportunities for community impact. Her administration has introduced measures to help more women enter construction and other skilled trade professions.
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones highlighted the event’s goal of helping women discover career opportunities, reduce barriers, and increase representation in the building trades. She also noted the importance of partnerships with MA Girls in Trades and the promotion of Registered Apprenticeship programs as part of the state’s workforce strategy.
Hosted by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103, the event showcased union training programs that prepare a diverse and skilled workforce. IBEW Business Manager Lou Antonellis noted that the organization has trained a record number of women apprentices in recent years and that the fair helps prospective tradeswomen learn about available career paths.
The Healey-Driscoll administration continues to support union labor and increase female participation in the trades. Initiatives include executive orders supporting women in construction projects, promoting project labor agreements for public works, expanding training programs, and helping over 10,000 registered apprentices find employment.
