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Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair is a landmark event promoting incredible career opportunities in the Pacific Northwest’s skilled trades industries for over 30 years! The Career Fair offers unique opportunities for employers and training programs to connect with eager audiences who want to take the next steps into strong careers in the trades. This year’s Career Fair is hosting registered students and educators on Friday, May 15th while Saturday, May 16th is FREE and open to the public.

With decades of history successfully building a pipeline of workers into the trades at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center, the Career Fair continues to grow with overwhelming interest from schools, the trades industry, and the general public. To accommodate increased demand, Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair is moving to the Portland Expo Center this year! Oregon Tradeswomen remains deeply grateful to the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center for their historic partnership and looks forward to hosting them as exhibitors at the 2026 Career Fair.

As the new home of Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair, the Portland Expo Center has a vast footprint with even more space for companies to host exhibit tables and hands-on activities, both indoors and outdoors. The number of school groups that can be hosted at the Career Fair has doubled, allowing even more elbow room for middle and high schoolers to get inspired about their career options in the trades. Plus, it will be easier than ever for guests from Oregon and Washington to access the event thanks to the Portland Expo Center’s central location, especially with direct access from TriMet’s MAX Yellow Line and ample parking on-site.

With the move to the Portland Expo Center, Oregon Tradeswomen is excited to build strong new partnerships across the skilled trades. In addition to the construction trades, Oregon Tradeswomen is looking to engage with employers and training providers in all aspects of the trades such as manufacturing, transportation, energy, technology, automotive, aviation, public & safety services, and even ancillary organizations that support the skilled trades. Now is the prime time to get involved in the Career Fair as a sponsor or exhibitor, so come show off your trade and how you do it right!

Attendees are sure to have an enlightening experience while getting hands on with cornerstone Career Fair activities such as the Water Bureau’s water main break simulation, welding with the PCC mobile welding van, and soldering copper pipe with the plumbers and steamfitters of UA Local 290. With the expanded space, there is much excitement about what new activities will be at the Career Fair like the Sprinkler Fitters Local 669’s Burn Trailer demonstration taking place on Saturday at noon!

Oregon Tradeswomen and their pre-apprenticeship partners will also be hosting Information Sessions to spread the word about free training opportunities in the Portland Metro region. Educators will also be able to experience a special, in-depth information session to provide them with the tools to better support their pupils’ ambitions of starting careers in the skilled trades. Plus, there will be a sensational construction demonstration led by Oregon Tradeswomen students to showcase the awesome skills they built during their pre-apprenticeship training.

The Career Fair aims to be the premier way for jobseekers in Oregon and Washington to discover extraordinary, debt-free career pathways available in the trades, and is a key opportunity for Pacific Northwest companies to reach thousands of potential employees ready to get working! With the move to the Portland Expo Center, this event is only getting bigger and better, offering more chances to explore career opportunities and meet employers ready to hire. There is no doubt that this year’s Career Fair will be one of the best in our region, so come on out with the whole family to learn, get connected, and find your dream career!