Young Mom Builds Welding Business After 10-Hour Practice Days

After years of running ragged as a waitress and nursing assistant for little pay, Olivia Rothe picked up a welding torch and never looked back.

At just 23 years old with two small children, Rothe was searching for something more than exhausting shifts and low wages. She found her answer in an unlikely place: the sparks flying from her partner Jalie's welding projects.

"She would come home dirty, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I could never. What is welding?'" Rothe remembers. But when Jalie started showing her videos of the day's work, something clicked.

Rothe bought the cheapest welder she could find and taught herself the craft. She spent ten hours a day in her backyard, practicing weld after weld until her hands knew the work by heart.

The dedication paid off with real job offers, but the workplaces brought a new challenge. Rothe was always the only woman welder on site, surrounded by men in a field that's been male-dominated for generations.

"There were other women there, of course, like in the office or maybe in the shipping department," she says. "But I've always been the only woman welder. It's super lonely."

She found her community online instead, joining Facebook groups where women welders share their daily wins, vent about tough days, and answer each other's technical questions. The virtual support helped her push through the isolation.

Now Rothe and Jalie run Rustic Metals together, crafting everything from tiny custom tables to sturdy coat racks made from horseshoes. Working out of their own backyard and taking jobs on site, Rothe is no longer the lone woman on the job.

Why This Inspires

Rothe's story reflects a massive shift happening across America's workshops and construction sites. Since 2022, the number of women in skilled trades has jumped 47%, as worker shortages open doors that were previously closed.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts skilled trade jobs will grow 2% by 2034 as older workers retire. Women like Rothe are stepping up to fill those roles, often finding better pay, more stability, and genuine passion for work that lets them create with their hands.

"I wanted to beat the statistics of being a teen mom," Rothe says. "And now look at me. I'm 23 years old and I feel like I'm doing good for myself."

Her welding business proves that sometimes the best career move is the one nobody expects you to make.