Dear colleagues,
March is Women’s History Month, a time to highlight and celebrate the contributions and impact women have made on American history. Recognizing the achievements of women throughout history is just a start. Understanding the challenges women have overcome can help us face the challenges ahead.
Women’s participation in the labor force has increased exponentially since 1950. Yet while progress has been made in women’s earnings and opportunities, there has been limited advancement for women seeking employment in male-dominated skilled trades, and women on average still earn 83 cents for every dollar a man earns in the same position.
We at Job Corps know it is imperative that we empower young women to follow their dreams and find a career they’re passionate about—regardless of industry or field. Industries such as construction, maintenance, transportation, protective services, and fishing and forestry continue to witness a significant underrepresentation of women, with women making up less than 25% of the workforce.
At Job Corps, we are committed to bridging this gap by encouraging our female student population to explore opportunities in traditionally male-dominated industries, including these “nontraditional” occupations.
As Job Corps is the nation’s largest, residential career training program, a priority for the program will always be to equip centers with resources dedicated to training women for success, enhancing female recruitment and retention, identifying and providing support services, and actively engaging employers and unions to garner their support.