We're excited
to announce the
2026 Fair!
(it's our 45th!)
Friday, May 1
9am - 2pm
Fisher Pavilion
at Seattle Center
Work Ready Women, Students
and Career Counselors:
Curious about women's options
in non-traditional careers?
Training Programs:
Want to show off your inventive
women-friendly apprenticeship
program?
Construction Companies:
Looking to share career
opportunities with
enthusiastic audiences?
Public Agencies:
Want to strut the cool stuff
you do and find people to help
you do it?
Then visit and/or exhibit at the Women in Trades Fair!
It's a fun opportunity to learn about living wage/lucrative careers in the construction trades and exhibitors feature almost every craft imaginable, from carpentry to sheet metal, electrical linework to elevator construction, ironwork to masonry, firefighting to meat cutting. It’s all here, both indoors and outdoors.
This is a free event and all are welcome!
Exhibitors Register HERE
Schools Register HERE
Download a Flyer HERE
Finally, to get an idea of potential exhibitors, see the 2025 Exhibitor List here
Special Thanks to Seattle Center!
To see Winning Fair Exhibitors, click here
Some Fair History
45 years ago, a group of women newly working in skilled trades gathered together for support and comradery. Solidarity was important--they were a minority in the workplace and the issues of harassment, pay inequality, improperly fitting work clothing (PPE) and a variety of other frustrating obstacles were everyday occurrences. As the group evolved, they realized that one way to influence change was to encourage more women to venture into trades occupations. (safety in numbers...) That's when the fair was born.
The first Women in Trades Fair was held on Saturday, November 10, 1979 at the Seattle Labor Temple on First Avenue in downtown Seattle. It featured workshops with topics such as How to Enter the Trades, Overcoming Math Anxiety, Affirmative Action - Racism & Sexism on the Job, and How to Survive in the Trades. There were booths & demonstrations that showcased carpentry, electrical, firefighting, appliance repair, forklift driving and more. It was interpreted for the deaf and child care was provided. The event was produced by Mechanica & the University YWCA with support from, to name a few, the King County Women's Program, Operating Engineers Local 302, The Seattle Office of Women's Rights, the DOL Women's Bureau, National Electrical Contractor's Association and more. It was an ambitious undertaking and an inspiration to everyone who attended.
Over forty Trade Fairs have come and gone. Every current tradeswoman, at some time in her career, experiences the same struggles as did those women in 1978. The percentage of women working in skilled trades remains dismal and sometimes the glass ceiling seems to get thicker and thicker. But the modern tradeswoman pushes on like a dandelion growing through a sidewalk crack. One might wonder why we don't just throw up our hands and give up?
The answer is simple: We're Here To Work.