Full text of Women's Bureau Updates : November 2022, Issue XI

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Women's Bureau

WB Updates November 2022 | Issue XI

National Apprenticeship Week

We celebrated National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) this year from Nov. 14 to 20 with events and activities that showcased the value
of pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs in building a strong economy and a diverse workforce. The U.S. first
observed NAW in 2015, when women made up only 9 percent of all Registered Apprentices. Today, women make up nearly 14
percent of active apprentices, and that number is growing. This week reminds us of the need to identify and address the
discriminatory practices, systemic barriers and long-standing obstacles that prevent women from accessing the opportunities
available through apprenticeship programs—and to continue advocating for policy changes that will help women secure jobs in
male-dominated industries that pay higher, family-sustaining wages.
Read the President's Proclamation on National Apprenticeship Week
Explore the effects of occupational segregation on women’s economic security

National Women in Apprenticeship Day
Thirty years ago, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Act (WANTO) was signed into law, thanks to the
leadership of Congresswoman Constance A. Morella to support tradeswomen and facilitate more women entering nontraditional
occupations. Since its enactment, WANTO has delivered job-related training to thousands of women. WANTO grantees provide

supportive services like career counseling and mentoring to improve women’s retention in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship
programs. They provide training and technical assistance to employers and unions working to create an environment for women to
succeed. Through WANTO, women are gaining access to and succeeding in new industries.
Learn more about the WANTO grant program and this year’s awardees
Read our WANTO anniversary blog

Tradeswomen Spotlights
"Since graduating from ANEW, I [feel] like I finally have a career. Before the program...every
paycheck was a struggle. Now I work for one of the best companies, McKinstry. [I'm] so very
thankful for the staff at ANEW and all the support they gave me to succeed. Looking forward to
getting in the apprenticeship program as a commercial plumber. Don’t know where I would be
without the amazing opportunity ANEW has given me!"
–Georgia Zimmerman, Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Education
Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW), WANTO grantee

"I have never experienced an environment like this before where women were helping each other
instead of fighting to get ahead. They give chances to people that might not ever have had any. If
Oregon Tradeswomen didn’t take a chance on me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. ...My biggest
achievement is learning who I am supposed to be...being in the construction world has been that
piece that I was missing."
–Jamie Jarrett, 4th Term Electrical Apprentice
Oregon Tradeswomen, WANTO grantee

"I was just a mediocre student. I had ADD and a learning disability and getting through college
was a struggle. I got the degree, but it was still a struggle to earn a living wage. One day while
chatting with an IBEW electrician, I learned about Oregon Tradeswomen’s pre-apprenticeship
program. I applied immediately. It’s challenging work that’s different every day and I love that
you get a final product so immediately. Every time I leave the job site there is something new
there that will probably outlast me."
–Liz Nichols, Cement Mason
Oregon Tradeswomen, WANTO grantee

"I was fresh out of prison and looking for a future I could do. I saw a sign advertising ANEW and I
got a feeling that I can do this. It was so much more than I anticipated. I found a supportive group
of women who all wanted good things for their futures. Today it’s me living with my 3 kids and
paying bills. I have something I’ve never had, a path to self-sufficiency. I’m proud of myself and
amazed and grateful to this program."
–Melissa Godsey, Trades Rotation Program
Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW), WANTO grantee

Events and Partnerships

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Family Caregivers Roundtable
This month, Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon joined a group of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
(AA and NHPI) caregivers and subject matter experts for an in-person roundtable at The White House. Care work has historically
been devalued and care workers are often underpaid and overburdened. AA and NHPI caregivers and care workers also deal with
other challenges, including lack of access to and limited availability of in-language resources, insufficient culturally competent
health systems, and the rise of anti-Asian racism in recent years. This discussion provided an opportunity for the Biden-Harris
Administration to hear first-hand some of the issues paid and unpaid caregivers encounter and identify opportunities for
intervention.
Hear from a caregiver about the importance of investing in a national care economy

Bold on Early Educator Compensation: Lessons from States Taking Action
On Nov. 2, the Women’s Bureau joined the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment–Berkeley University to host a
conversation on advancing meaningful compensation reform for early educators. Childcare workers receive among the lowest
wages of any occupation in the country and are over twice as likely to live below the poverty line compared to workers in other
sectors. More than 15% of childcare workers live below the poverty line in 41 states, and the United States is now experiencing a
shortage of early educators. Webinar participants discussed strategies for improving pay and working conditions in this womendominated sector and reinforced the fact that supporting early educators is a matter of racial and gender justice.
Explore our database of childcare prices

Celebrating Women Veterans – She Served, Too!
This year, in honor of Veteran’s Day and as part of our workplace equity series, the Women’s Bureau hosted a webinar to
commemorate women veterans who have dedicated their lives to military service but encounter obstacles transitioning from
military to civilian life. According to recent research, one of the top challenges is finding employment, with women veterans feeling
they are not adequately prepared for civilian careers and wanting better support with resume building, interviewing, and
navigating the civilian workplace. In partnership with other agencies at the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, Hiring Our Heroes, and Work For Warriors, the Women's Bureau shared career resources, offered information about
obtaining access to benefits, updated participants on educational opportunities, and highlighted workplace rights.
Explore data on women veterans

Swiss Embassy National Apprenticeship Week Event
Women's Bureau Acting Deputy Director Tiffany Boiman spoke at the Embassy of Austria’s 8th Annual National Apprenticeship
Week event, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland and Advantage Austria. She talked about the urgency, given
recent infrastructure investments, of facilitating women’s entry into good-paying jobs with benefits and opportunities for
advancement, including industries and occupations where they traditionally have been under-represented. Boiman stressed the
need to leverage funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act to create and
expand apprenticeable career pathways for women.
Learn more about federal investments in good jobs

Women in Apprenticeship: Building Our Power
To mark National Women in Apprenticeship Day, which usually falls on Thursday of National Apprenticeship Week, Women’s
Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon moderated a panel discussion about the work being done to expand pathways for women in
the workforce through apprenticeship. Over the last 30 years women’s representation in apprenticeship programs and jobs in the
trades has doubled, reaching its highest level ever in 2021. While the numbers of women overall – and Black and Latina
apprentices, specifically – have increased, they are still too low. Speakers discussed how government funding through the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can be used to help promote gender equity in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship
programs.
Find out more about women in apprenticeship

November Observances

National Veteran and Military Families Month
November is Military Family Appreciation Month, and Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, both of which are a great opportunity to honor the
contributions of veterans and their families to the nation and our workforce. Are you a woman veteran small business owner? Your
local Women's Business Center offers resources and guidance to support you and your business based on your community's needs.
Check out data and statistics on women veterans
Find out how to start and grow your #VetBiz

National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month and we're not stopping our work to ensure women are aware of the family-friendly
policies, work-place flexibilities and other work-life benefits that can help them manage work obligations and caregiving
responsibilities. We're also continuing to advocate for a national care system that can help build an economy that works for
women.
See how the Family and Medical Leave Act applies to you
Explore the Administration for Community Living's resources for family caregivers
Access federal resources for women

Transgender Awareness Week and Day of Remembrance
Each year, we observe Transgender Awareness Week Nov. 13–19 and Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20 to honor the
experiences of trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals. These dates are an important reminder to keep fighting
against discrimination and other forms of oppression within and outside the workplace. Through our work, we advance equity and
inclusion for all communities and promote opportunities for all workers regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or
gender expression.
Explore the Department of Labor's LGBTQI+ policies

In Case You Missed It
Request for Information: Data
The Department of Labor wants to hear from you as part of an effort to expand public access to
Federal data in a way that reflects public interests and serves public needs.
Submit your feedback by Dec. 12

Worker Rights
Do you have questions about your rights as an employee, want to find out more about common
workplace concerns, and are interested in learning about the laws that protect you?
Visit worker.gov today

New DOL grant: Nursing Expansion Grant Program
The Department of Labor recently announced $80 million in grant funding to support nursing
training programs for future nurses from historically underrepresented populations and
underserved communities.
Learn more about this funding opportunity

WB in the News
Women in apprenticeship – creating pipelines to economic security
Another Voice: Dismantling barriers to apprenticeship | The Buffalo News
Apprenticeship changes lives – especially for women | Independence Bulletin Journal
Apprenticeship changes lives – especially for women | Minot Daily News
Apprenticeships help tear down barriers for women in the workplace | The Seattle Times
Commentary: Gina Rodriguez – Apprenticeship changes lives, especially for women | My Journal Courier
Changing Lives | Norfolk Daily News
GUEST COLUMN: Women should take more apprenticeships | Beaumont Enterprise
Regional View: Apprenticeships change lives – especially for women | Duluth News Tribune
Removing the barriers for female apprentices | The Sentinel-Record
Rodriguez: Apprenticeship changes lives – especially for women | Pharos Tribune

Infrastructure jobs for tradeswomen
Tradeswomen Organizations Demand Infrastructure Jobs in Their Communities | The Moxy Voice
Tradeswomen Organizations Nationwide Demand Infrastructure Jobs in Their Communities | Mechanical Hub

Upcoming Events

Equity Series: Tipped Workers in the Restaurant Industry – Challenges and Solutions
Join us to discuss the challenges tipped workers face in the restaurant industry, learn about workers’ rights and protections, and
explore solutions for increasing workers’ security.
Note: This is a two-part series. Your registration will give you access to both webinars.

Register to attend | Nov. 30 and Dec. 13, 1 p.m. ET

Uniting to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment: The Impact of Worker-Centered
Education and Awareness
Join us to hear from guest speakers, including workers, who will share successful methods they've used to raise awareness about
gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work and programs they've put in place to prevent and address it.
Register to attend | Dec. 7, 2–3:30 p.m. ET

We Want to Hear from You!

“Occupational segregation” is the gendered sorting of men and women into different types of jobs. It leads to women being
overrepresented in certain jobs, which are valued and compensated less than male-dominated jobs.
We’ve heard from many working women about their experiences with gendered job expectations, the challenges they face at work,
the support systems that help them thrive and the policy changes that would help them succeed. We'd like to hear from you.
Read their stories
Tell us your story

Follow the Women's Bureau on Twitter: @WB_DOL
The Women’s Bureau has championed the rights of working women and served as a convener of
conversations critical to an equitable economy for women for more than 100 years.
Follow us at @WB_DOL to view our #ThrowbackThursday series highlighting pioneering women,
and to learn more about the latest research, initiatives, policies and updates related to working
women and their families.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
U.S. Department of Labor - Women's Bureau - 200 Constitution Ave NW - Washington, DC 20210
202-693-6710 (telephone) - 202-693-6725 (fax) - www.dol.gov/agencies/wb

Women's Bureau
An agency within the U.S.
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20210
1-866-4-USA-DOL

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