1943:  41% of welders at the Richmond Yards were women.

2015:   2% of welders in the U.S. are women.

Note, “burners” cut metal (with a torch) rather than weld metal.

At peak production in 1943 there were 90,000 employees (24,500 women) and the average worker earned $61.00 per week.

From A Booklet of Illustrated Facts about the Shipyards at Richmond California, Second edition published by the Permanente Metals Corporation (Richmond, California: June 30, 1944)