Women's Journal — Health, Beauty, Fitness & Lifestyle
Women in Skilled Trades Gain New Career Opportunities
Women are gaining ground in skilled trades such as construction, crane operation, welding and automotive repair as employers expand recruitment efforts and improve workplace conditions. Federal workforce figures show gradual increases in female participation, while technical education institutions report growing enrollment among women pursuing hands-on careers. Despite these gains, women remain underrepresented in many trade occupations, making access to training, career advancement and supportive workplaces important considerations for the industry. Key Takeaways Women accounted for approximately 4.4% of U.S. construction, installation and repair workers in 2025, up from 2.9% a decade earlier Tower crane operator Sammy Cossairt earns a reported $120,000 annually, illustrating the earning potential of certain specialized trades Women represent 8% of students at Universal Technical Institute, with female enrollment reaching 19% in some technical programs Mortenson reports that women now account for more than 10% of its skilled workforce, compared with 7% a decade ago Employers are improving recruitment and retention through paid maternity leave, flexible schedules, better facilities and appropriately fitted protective equipment Women Increase Their Representation in Skilled Trades Women in skilled trades are entering occupations that have historically employed predominantly male workforces. Construction, equipment operation, electrical work and automotive repair are among the fields
Postpartum Depression Linked to Higher Infant Mortality Risk
Researchers from Rutgers University, Princeton University and the University of California, San Francisco found an association between maternal depressive symptoms identified immediately after childbirth and infant mortality in a study of 414,890 New Jersey births. Published September 2 in JAMA Network Open, the research examined deaths during the first 364 days after birth. Key Takeaways A study published in JAMA Network Open found that maternal depressive symptoms identified immediately after childbirth were associated with a higher risk of infant mortality. Researchers analyzed 414,890 singleton births in New Jersey from 2016 through 2020. Mothers with an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 10 or higher were classified as having documented depressive symptoms. Infant mortality was 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births among infants whose mothers had depressive symptoms, compared with 2.0 per 1,000 among those without documented symptoms. The observational study found an association but did not prove that postpartum depression causes infant death. JAMA Study Examines Postpartum Depression and Infant Mortality The population-based retrospective cohort study examined whether maternal depressive symptoms identified during the immediate postpartum period were associated with the risk of infant death. Researchers used New Jersey birth records from 2016 through 2020 and linked them with death records
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New Child Care Report Reveals the Hidden Cost for Working Moms
A Louisiana report released in October 2026 documents how child care costs and limited availability affect parents’ jobs, with female respondents reporting especially pronounced shifts from full-time to part-time work. The findings explain the financial pressures, scheduling problems, and limited assistance facing families with young children, alongside national data on care prices. Key Takeaways The October 13 report surveyed 500 Louisiana adults caring for children younger than five. Among female respondents answering employment questions, 24.1% reported moving from full-time to part-time work because of child care problems. Infant care averaged approximately $12,042 annually in the report’s inflation-adjusted Louisiana pricing estimate. Nearly 70% of survey respondents reported some difficulty finding affordable child care. A new study from the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children found that child care difficulties coincided with reduced work schedules and job departures among parents of young children. In responses broken down by gender, 24.1% of women said child care problems had led them to move from full-time to part-time employment, compared with 5.9% of men. The institute released The Missing Piece on October 13. Louisiana State University researchers surveyed 500 adults caring for children four and younger from April 13 to April 21. Employment figures reflect 411
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