A Capital Region BOCES senior knows what she wants and how to get it and she is not letting traditional gender roles within jobs stand in her way.
Delena Baker is a senior in the Construction/Heavy Equipment program on the Career and Technical School, Schoharie Campus. She chose the program so she could follow in the family footsteps and pursue a career in the construction industry.
“I have grown up in this. My father owns his own electrical company and I want to take over his business and eventually expand it,” said Baker while taking a break from framing out a shed during a recent class.
The Schoharie High School senior said she has no qualms about entering an industry that only has about a 10 percent female workforce according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“It’s not an issue,” Baker said.
Baker’s career plans will take her to college before joining the family business.
“I plan to go to college for business to prepare to run the business,” she said.
The Schoharie High School senior is one of several females pursuing careers in job sectors that traditionally do not draw a significant percentage of females.
According to Workwave, women in skilled trades are in demand as an untapped resource for skilled workers in trade jobs, as there is a predicted shortage of the labor force and an anticipated growth in job opportunity. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projection expects such employment to grow by 8.4 million jobs.
Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School has long offered such opportunities for all students. For more information, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/