News Summary
The California Department of Industrial Relations has allocated $26 million in grants to improve diversity in the construction workforce. Funded through the Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship program, these grants support 25 initiatives focused on accessibility for women and disadvantaged communities. Notable recipients include Cerritos College and the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building Trades Council. Efforts are being made to increase female participation in construction, with new programs and additional funding planned to reinforce support and marketing for women entering the industry.
Sacramento, California – The California Department of Industrial Relations has allocated $26 million in grants aimed at enhancing diversity and representation in the construction workforce. These funds, awarded through the Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) program, will support 25 construction apprenticeship initiatives focused on increasing accessibility for women and disadvantaged communities.
This latest round of funding marks the second issuance of ERiCA grants, following the disbursement of $25 million to 19 programs in the previous cycle. The emphasis of this funding is on three essential areas: recruitment, support, and retention of workers within the construction sector.
Among the highlighted recipients of the grants are several organizations dedicated to fostering apprenticeship opportunities. Cerritos College has been awarded $1.25 million to bolster its field ironwork apprenticeship program, while the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building Trades Council Apprenticeship Readiness Fund received $2.5 million to enhance worksite culture, recruit participants, and provide childcare services. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California received $550,000 with the ambitious goal of doubling the enrollment of women in their programs within two years.
Additionally, a new program scheduled to commence on April 7 in Northern California aims to attract women into trade professions. This all-women’s Multi Craft Core Curriculum apprentice readiness program will span six weeks, offering hands-on training in nearly 20 different trade fields alongside essential skills in safety and mathematics.
The State Joint Business Training Committee (SJBTC) is currently seeking applicants for this program, which is designed to guide women through the application process for union apprenticeship programs within the construction industry. Labor Secretary Natalie Palugyai underscored the pressing need for California to significantly expand its workforce, indicating that the state must double the number of apprentices to reach Governor Gavin Newsom’s target of training 500,000 apprentices by the year 2029.
In response to the expanding needs of the apprenticeship sector, the state budget includes “innovation funding” to enhance apprenticeship intermediaries as well as financing for supplemental instruction equivalent to community college courses. Despite the substantial growth potential within the construction sector, statistics reveal a concerning trend: women accounted for only 4% of California’s construction apprentices in 2021, a drop from earlier years attributed in part to the state’s affirmative action ban.
The Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER) program represents one of the few initiatives explicitly designed to support women seeking careers in construction. However, the program has encountered obstacles during the pandemic, including the cancellation of training cohorts and the loss of its training venue. WINTER’s Executive Director has expressed concerns regarding unstable living conditions that may hinder potential trainees from pursuing the program.
To enhance the transition of women into the building trades, it has been identified that a robust support system, including case managers, is essential. Furthermore, increased marketing efforts could play a critical role in encouraging more women to consider careers in construction. Looking to the future, the state has outlined plans to allocate $15 million in the upcoming budget year specifically for a “Women in Construction Priority Program,” aimed at bolstering female participation in this vital industry.
The ERiCA grants and these ongoing initiatives illustrate a concerted effort by the California government and affiliated organizations to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the construction workforce. These measures strive to break down barriers and create a more equitable environment for women and disadvantaged communities in a sector that has long struggled with representation.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Insurance Journal: California Announces $26 Million for Women in Construction
- MSN Money: California Invests in Women Construction Careers
- KCRA: ValleyBuild Trains Women in Northern California
- LAist: California’s Push for Women in Construction Apprenticeships
- California Globe: Apprenticeship Programs Under the Labor Code
- Wikipedia: Construction Industry
- Google Search: Women in Construction
- Google Scholar: Construction Apprenticeships California
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Apprenticeship
- Google News: Women in Construction California
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