Riley Construction apprentice Taylor Tekampe is part of what she expects to be a growing trend in the trades as more women enter into the construction field.
She recently reflected on her journey into carpentry as the trades mark National Apprenticeship Week.
Born and raised in Kenosha County, Tekampe said her apprenticeship evolved from a construction class in high school. Her teacher saw she was good at carpentry and encouraged her to look into the field as a career.
Tekampe
“He kept pushing me and pushing me,” Tekampe said.
Her teacher reached out to Riley Construction, setting up an interview for her at school. By the time it was done, she had a paid apprenticeship lined up.
Tekampe began her apprenticeship a week after graduating last June.
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“It’s been going well, I’m learning new things every day,” she said. “I’ve got great leaders to look up to.”
Construction and carpentry are typically male dominated fields, but Tekampe said she personally feels treated as an equal in her position at Riley.
“I think most women are intimidated by the trades, it’s a ‘man’ culture, but I think that’ll change in the future,” she said.
She plans to work her way up the ladder at Riley, and encourages other young people to consider the trades after high school.
“It needs to be publicized more, college is pushed a lot, but schools should grasp onto trades more,” Tekampe said. “It’s a great program to go to, no debt and learning great things every day.”
About National Apprenticeship Week
The U.S. Department of Labor this week announced the start of National Apprenticeship Week, an annual event that includes plans in 2023 for more than 1,300 events and proclamations nationwide, united by the theme, “Registered Apprenticeship: Superhighway to Good Jobs.”
Through Nov. 19, this year’s 9th annual event will bring employers, industry associations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, education providers and government leaders together to showcase the importance of Registered Apprenticeship in improving job quality and expanding U.S. workers’ access to good-paying jobs in many industries.
“National Apprenticeship Week recognizes the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in Registered Apprenticeships and their vital importance to our nation’s workforce infrastructure,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “This week, we commend our partners — in industry associations, labor organizations, education and academia, workforce development, community-based organizations and in federal, state and local governments — for committing to make the long-term investments needed to ensure a pipeline of talent for the good-paying, quality jobs being created across the nation.”