May 24, 2016
MTU America hosted its annual Girls Day event, exposing young girls to manufacturing processes and careers at its MTU Aiken Plant earlier this month.
Every year, the event aims to educate young girls on the careers available in the manufacturing industry and to encourage their interest in a typically male-dominated field. All seven of the Aiken County Public School District’s high schools participated in this year’s event.
According to a news release from MTU America, the gender pay gap is a hot topic in the United State, considering the upcoming election and various legislation in the works to help close it.
A recent study from Fortune magazine suggests that getting more women into middle-skill jobs such as manufacturing, information technology, transportation, distribution and logistics could result in closing the gap and an earnings increase for all women.
MTU’s Girls Day offers young women a glimpse into the world of manufacturing while cultivating the belief that girls and boys are equally capable of achieving success in the industry, according to a news release from MTU America.
At this year’s event, MTU hosted 85 local female ninth-graders to hear directly from women in the manufacturing industry about their education, career path and the opportunities available for women in manufacturing.
The girls also toured the plant, got hands-on experience with components in the plant and learned about MTU America’s high school apprenticeship program.