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Jobs in the construction trades offer steady, high-paying careers across the country. But women are still missing out on these opportunities — they make up only 4% of construction workers.

Apprenticeships are a critical pathway into these jobs, yet women make up only 5% of registered apprentices. And now, the U.S. Department of Labor is proposing to roll back key protections that help women and other underrepresented workers enter and succeed in these earn-while-you-learn training programs. If we want a stronger, more inclusive workforce, we need more access and support — not less.

TAKE ACTION! OJoin tradeswomen and allies across the country to raise awareness about the need to ensure equal access and opportunity in apprenticeships! Share these posts and spread the word! 📣

Take a selfie for #WomenInApprenticeshipDay! This is what apprenticeship looks like 🛠️ #TWTF #NAW2026
Share your own selfie! share.equalrights.org

Since the Department of Labor is not recognizing Women in Apprenticeship Day this year, we will do what women in the trades always do: roll up our sleeves and get it done ourselves 🛠️ Women are already welding, wiring, building, and leading. Every day, they are proving that apprenticeships are a pathway to high wage, stable careers. Apprenticeships don’t just train workers. They change lives. We need strong protections that support women’s access to these jobs and help close the #WageGap. #TWTF #WomenInTheTrades #WomenInApprenticeship #NAW2026

Construction and trade jobs often pay more than jobs in female-dominated fields—and typically involve earn-as-you-learn apprenticeships. But what happens when you stop proactively recruiting women and people of color to important programs? The experience of a pre-apprenticeship program in Massachusetts shows the power of intentional outreach. #NAW2026 #TWTF #WomenInApprenticeship #WomenInTrades
Read more: iwpr.org

Women are dramatically underrepresented in high-paying apprenticeship fields like construction—and thus face a much lower pay-off than men. In 2026, men completing an apprenticeship made an average of more than $35/hour. Women? Just $23. #TWTF #NAW2026
Check out our latest Quick Figure iwpr.org

Inadequate protections against discrimination & harassment create dangerous workplaces for women and gender expansive people. Without strong safeguards, these conditions can escalate into serious harm and workplace violence. We demand @USDOL maintain and strengthen protections in apprenticeship programs to ensure safe, equitable workplaces for all. #OutiHicks #AmberCzech #AmandaDakotaWebster #WomenInApprenticeship #WomenInTheTrades #TWTF #NAW2026

@USDOL is proposing to cut protections that help women and other historically excluded groups access apprenticeships, a key pathway to high wage jobs. They want to make it harder by removing: ❌ Anti-harassment training ❌ Outreach requirements ❌ Clear ways to report discrimination These protections matter. Women need access to safe, high wage careers. We call on @USDOL to strengthen apprenticeship protections, not weaken them! #TWTF #WomenInTheTrades #WomenInApprenticeship #NAW2026

Apprenticeships change lives. We need protections to support women’s access to high wage jobs to close the #WageGap! #TWTF #WomenInApprenticeships #NAW2026

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