Work opportunities abound at ‘Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair’

INCLUDES HANDS-ON TRADES TRAINING ACTION VIDEO | See why hundreds of people came out to this year’s Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair …

At the Oregon Tradeswomen ‘s Career Fair, the organization’s Contract Manager – Tiffany Bowie – shows off this year’s T-shirt.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The trades-related career event that highlighted apprenticeship and debt-free training options for lucrative careers in the skilled construction trades returned on May 17, in the Wilkes neighborhood, at the NECA/ IBEW Electrical Training Center. The 2025 Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair was underway!

The Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair connects thousands of students and job-seekers to a wide variety of careers in the skilled construction trades, and it also helps local industry and businesses find qualified and skilled workers.

Ready to register guests is Trytten Effing, Communications and Marketing Manager at Oregon Tradeswomen.

“Today is the ‘public’ day for our Oregon Tradeswomen’s 30th annual Career Fair,” Oregon Tradeswomen Communications and Marketing Manager Trytten Effing began as the doors opened in the morning of May 17th.

“Yesterday, we hosted about 1,500 students who came on field trips from their schools. They got hands-on experience actually trying out what it’s like to work in one of the many trades,” Effing told East Portland News.

Video, not still images, is the best way to see highlights of this unique employment fair – it includes a list of all the exhibitors:

“We have 97 employers on site,” Effing enumerated. “These employers are representatives of companies, unions, government agencies, and organizations offering free training programs –there’s really something here for everyone to explore, and then perhaps find a new way to earn a living, one that they’d never thought of, or experienced before,” he explained.

Trades include employers such as:

Construction: Carpenter, plumber, electrician, welder, bricklayer.
Manufacturing: Machinist, tool and die maker, industrial mechanic.
Transportation: Auto mechanic, aircraft mechanic, heavy equipment operator.
Service: HVAC technician, dental hygienist, respiratory therapist.

In addition, law enforcement agencies also came to the event, hopefully to recruit potential officers to their training programs, as well.

Guest/participant Reta Jarvie gets a feel for the work electricians perform. “I’m just looking at all the different job and career opportunities,” she says.

Talking with a guest about a career with the Portland Police Bureau is Sergeant Joana Buck.

“While many people are pushed toward college as ‘the only way’ to a career; the trades are the backbone of our society and provide careers offer incredible benefits and wages,” observed Effing. “Additionally, unions provide programs where new workers are paid while learning their trade, instead of going into debt for a college education.

“What is very important is that the current generations of trade workers are retiring,” pointed out Effing. “Right now we only have one person coming into the trades, for every five who are about to retire – which means there is long-term demand!”

Guests learn about the trades who exhibit at the event.

About their hosts at the NECA/ IBEW Electrical Training Center, Effing commended, “They’ve been incredible partners for us for at least a decade. In addition to providing the space, the also have an amazing, state-of-the-art facility that allows us to really give hands on opportunities and trades like welding, electrical, and plumbing.”

Learn more about what Oregon Tradeswomen does, all year long, by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

>> On our Front Page: Photographer Melissa Toledo with Toledo Images – takes photos of future tradeswomen Aurora Angeles, TT Alisna, and Maryland Chang.

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