U.S. Department of Labor Awards Nearly $1.5 Million For Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $1,492,095 to support the recruitment, training, and retention of women in skilled occupations.

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program funds community-based organizations that provide employers and labor unions with one or more of the following types of technical assistance:

• Pre-apprenticeship or nontraditional skills training programs;
• Ongoing orientations for employers, unions and workers on creating a successful environment for women to succeed in these careers; and
• Support groups and facilitating networks for women to improve their retention.

“Apprenticeships in the trades offer great opportunities for women to acquire the skills necessary for family-sustaining jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta.

Women are severely underrepresented in apprenticeship programs, and in high-growth, high-wage occupations generally. While women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force, they comprise less than 10 percent of apprentices.

Apprenticeships offer workers a pathway to the middle class and helps companies recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled workforce.  In addition to their long history in skilled trades such as construction, apprenticeships are also increasingly found in emerging and high-growth industries like energy, health care, and information technology.

The 2017 grants are administered by the Department’s Women’s Bureau. For information about the program see the Department’s FAQ.