Cara Siegel on Hire360, Clean Energy and the Retention of Women in the Trades

Welcome to the debut of Trades Day on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast! In this inaugural segment, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc is joined by Cara Siegel, a Journeyperson with IBEW Local 601 and an instructor for the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council. Siegel provides an inside look at Illinois’ Hire360 pre-apprenticeship model—a game-changing pipeline that is bridging the gap between curiosity and a career in the union trades. We dive into the practical realities of workforce development, from teaching math to adults to the surging demand for skilled labor driven by Illinois’ clean energy policies. Key Topics Discussed: The Hire360 Advantage: How pre-apprenticeship reduces risk for both workers and the industry. The Clean Energy Shift: Why solar, wind, and data centers are reshaping the IBEW’s workload. Retention vs. Recruitment: Siegel’s blunt assessment of why we are losing tradeswomen and what must change (childcare, leave, and culture). Nuclear & Data Centers: A nuanced look at Illinois’ energy mix and the community impact of rapid infrastructure build-outs. Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the AWF Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders building worker power across America. Visit us at awf.labortools.com.