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California wants more women in construction. Child care grants will help.

Jun 7, 2023
The state is awarding $25 million in grants to get more women into construction apprenticeships that can lead to high-paying jobs.
Tamarra Hayward receives a certificate of completion after a six-week pre-apprenticeship training program on March 30.
Beth LaBerge/KQED

Apprenticeships may help build the child care workforce

Nov 26, 2021
Low pay is still an obstacle to bringing people into the field, where employment is 10% lower than before the pandemic.
Carmen Del Alamo stands in her front yard, where children can play and strengthen their motor skills.
Mariana Dale

Apprenticeship gives California health care workers a career boost

Oct 21, 2021
The program helps licensed vocational nurses who work in state prisons to become registered nurses.
A program trains licensed vocational nurses who work in rural areas for the state correctional system to become registered nurses in California's correctional facilities.
Getty Images

Where are all the construction tradeswomen?

Aug 17, 2021
Despite steady progress toward gender equality in other fields, women still make up only a small percentage of construction workers.
Melissa Delgado, left, and Rebecca Gollnick-Starr practice the proper way to hand off a hammer on a jobsite. Both are in the pre-apprenticeship program at Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles.
Jill Replogle

Apprenticeship programs could help solve labor market woes

Feb 25, 2020
Apprentices earn a full salary and usually land a permanent job. Why don't we have more of them?
Stan Best took an apprenticeship at the Newport News Shipyard, where workers build aircraft carriers and submarines for the military.
Gary C. Knapp/Getty Images

Meet Rocio, 24, construction worker

Feb 18, 2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics would categorize Rocio’s job most broadly as “natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations.” One in 10 workers work jobs in that category.
Ben Hethcoat

Facing a labor shortage, construction tries to rebrand

Apr 11, 2019
To recruit more young people, employers talk up technology and higher pay.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Home Depot takes a shot at tackling the construction labor shortage

Apr 30, 2018
Home Depot is investing $50 million into residential construction apprenticeships, but that still won't address the labor shortage.
Students at Fort Stewart will be prepared for residential construction jobs after a 12-week apprenticeship with the Home Builders Institute, sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation.
Renata Sago/Marketplace

Trump’s infrastructure plan raises hopes and questions

Feb 14, 2018
The Trump administration’s new infrastructure plan promises a boost in workforce training programs — specifically, 1 million apprentices in two years. But some critics say there aren’t enough specifics in the proposals. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Blue-collar jobs that pay 6 figures are going unfilled

Jul 3, 2017
'This is an avenue for even some folks with college degrees.'
“There are a lot of people with college degrees now competing for some of the most competitive jobs out there, and some of them are ending up applying for jobs at 84 Lumber,” Prashant Gopal says.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Here’s a number – 2,000. That’s how many donors we need this fall to stay on track. Can we count on you?