Women in the workforce are vital to the nation’s economic security. The Women’s Bureau champions policies and standards that safeguard the interests of working women, advocates for the equality and economic security of women and their families, and promotes quality work environments.
This program's objectives are to encourage the employment of women in apprenticeable occupations and non-traditional occupations (A/NTO) within the United States and its territories. It seeks to achieve this by offering technical assistance to employers and labor unions through several methods. These include developing pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship programs, or other nontraditional skills training programs aimed at preparing women for careers in A/NTO; providing orientations or resources on fostering a conducive environment for women in these fields; and setting up support networks or services to enhance retention of women in these roles. It specifically targets women's participation and success across a wide range of industries where they are underrepresented or concentrated in lower-wage jobs. These industries encompass advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, health care, information technology, finance, and transportation. The program encourages applications from those with a history of working as or with equity intermediaries, with a focus on outreach to underrepresented communities including women of color, those with disabilities, low-income women, formerly incarcerated women, immigrant women, transgender women, and women in rural areas. It also supports initiatives aiming to increase women's inclusion and equity in projects funded by significant federal legislation and is open exclusively to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) or consortia of CBOs.