SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) -- Thousands of women working in the trades gathered in Chicago over the weekend learning more about -- and meeting other women in the male dominated field.

Women only make up about 5% of skilled trades workers in the United States, but two women out of Savoy Local 149 are trying to change that. They want to see more women in the field and feel that seeing thousands of likeminded people at a conference two hours north inspires confidence that number will increase in their shop.

"When you're in the trades, you can do stuff like construction or you can go into education, leadership roles, financial roles," said Local 149 member Laura Abbott. "There's so many things you can do that aren't just working with tools."

Local 149 in Savoy is also celebrating a big accomplishme

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