(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois women interested in becoming electricians, plumbers or other skilled trades workers will have more chances to learn the craft, thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
After women disproportionately lost jobs at the start of the pandemic, Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su said they are returning to the workforce in droves.
“Women are powering the economic recovery in this country, but women still account for just 4% of the skilled construction trades,” Su said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the federal funds will build on training programs and goals his administration has put into state construction projects for women apprentices.
“For further encouragement, contractors will soon receive bid credits when they commit to hiring graduates of these training programs onto their projects,” Pritzker said.
Jazz Allen, chair of Chicago Women in Trades, said this will give more women opportunities to work in the industry.
“I guarantee you, we’re great iron workers, we’re great carpenters, we’re great sheet metal workers, we’re great sprinkler fitters and pipe fitters,” Allen said.
The grant will also allow CWIT to give specific input on program design and best practices to “promote workforce equity,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
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