August 11, 2025

California Allocates $26 Million for Construction Apprenticeships

News Summary

The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced a new funding initiative with $26 million in grants to enhance access to construction apprenticeship programs for women and disadvantaged communities. This initiative supports 25 programs statewide, aiming to improve recruitment, retention, and support of individuals entering the construction workforce. Highlights include new programs specifically designed for women and additional resources for training and childcare. Labor Secretary Natalie Palugyai emphasized the importance of diversifying the apprenticeship pool, especially as women only represented a small fraction of apprentices in recent years.

Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced the distribution of $26 million in Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grants aimed at enhancing access to construction apprenticeship programs for women and disadvantaged communities. This funding supports 25 construction apprenticeship programs across the state, signaling a significant investment in workforce diversity in the construction sector.

This marks the second round of ERiCA grant funding, building on the initial round which provided $25 million to 19 programs. The objective of the ERiCA initiative is three-fold: to improve the recruitment, retention, and support of individuals entering the construction workforce.

Highlighted Grant Awardees

Several notable recipients of the ERiCA grants include:

Cerritos College: Awarded $1.25 million to bolster its field ironwork apprenticeship program.
Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building Trades Council Apprenticeship Readiness Fund: Received $2.5 million to facilitate childcare support, recruitment initiatives, and improvements in worksite culture.
Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California: Granted $550,000, aiming to double the number of women enrolled in its programs within two years.

New Program for Women

A new initiative set to launch on April 7 in Northern California aims to attract women into trade professions through an all-women’s Multi Craft Core Curriculum apprentice readiness program. This six-week program will provide participants with hands-on training in nearly 20 trade fields, along with essential safety training and math skills needed for successful apprenticeship applications.

The Northern California Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (SJBTC) is currently soliciting applicants for this program, which is designed to assist women in navigating the process of applying for union apprenticeship programs in the construction arena.

Government Goals and Funding

Labor Secretary Natalie Palugyai emphasized the necessity of expanding California’s apprenticeship pool, stating that the state aims to train 500,000 apprentices by 2029. To facilitate this goal, the state budget incorporates “innovation funding” aimed at scaling apprenticeship intermediaries and ensuring funding for supplemental instruction equivalent to community college courses.

Challenges Facing Women in Construction

Despite abundant opportunities in the construction field, women accounted for only 4% of California’s construction apprentices in 2021. Notably, the participation of women in these programs has seen a decline since the early 2000s, a trend partially attributed to the state’s affirmative action ban. Programs such as WINTER (Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles) have emerged to specifically target women for construction apprenticeships but face several challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, has led to the cancellation of training cohorts and a loss of training venues, impacting these women’s pathways into the workforce.

Concerns have arisen regarding unstable living conditions, which may hinder the success of potential trainees. It has been suggested that a support system including case managers could play a pivotal role in helping women transition into the building trades effectively.

In an effort to amplify the outreach to potential female candidates, increased marketing efforts have been suggested. Additionally, the state plans to allocate $15 million in the upcoming budget year towards a “Women in Construction Priority Program,” further reinforcing its commitment to boosting representation and opportunities for women in the construction industry.

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MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.

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