The grants seek to close gender gaps in skill trades and emerging industries.
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a $6 million funding opportunity to promote women’s participation in underrepresented employment sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and cybersecurity. While women constitute almost half of the labor force, they currently hold approximately 14 percent of Registered Apprenticeships.
The Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) Grant Program, jointly administered by the Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, is intended to strengthen community-based recruiting, training, and retaining women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional roles.
The Labor Department stated, “The WANTO grants will help address the significant underrepresentation of women in Registered Apprenticeships in skilled trades such as construction and in emerging, high-growth industries such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and healthcare.“
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Acting Secretary Julie Su to be discerning as she heads the Department of Labor.
- For Assistant Secretary Jose Javier Rodriguez as he leads the Employment and Training Administration.
- For Director Wendy Chun-Hoon as she oversees the Women’s Bureau and collaborates in the apprenticeship initiative.
Sources: Department of Labor
