New Building Plan to Help Women Enter Construction Industry

California's new Road Repair and Accountability Act is a $50 billion, 10-year building program to fund infrastructure repairs, with $25 million allocated for putting more women into trade pre-apprenticeships.

"A lot of women shy away from construction because of the work environment," says Democratic state Sen. Jim Beall, the primary sponsor of the legislation. "We're trying to change that good ol' boy, business as usual, construction culture." To qualify for the program, participants need proof of eligibility to work in the U.S., a GED or high school diploma, and a driver's license is recommended, CNN reports.

Traditionally, construction newbies enter the industry through a state-regulated apprenticeship: Apprentices earn as they learn, laboring under the mentorship of seasoned professionals, with some supplementary classroom instruction. Apprentices can join a union, getting a bump in salary as they complete each level of their training. But getting into these programs can be tricky, and often entail long waiting lists. Pre-apprenticeships can help fill that void, because classes are devised with input from local trades unions.

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