California invests $26 million to recruit more women into construction careers

08/17/2025

[ Article originally appeared in www.dir.ca.gov ]

In an effort to address statewide construction needs and build equity in the workforce, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) announced today that 25 construction apprenticeship programs have been awarded $26 million in Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grants. This funding aims to increase access to construction careers for women and disadvantaged communities.

What DAS Chief Adele Burnes said: "With this funding, we are addressing barriers that women face when trying to enter into construction careers. It has been empowering to see the ERiCA grants at work and watch apprentices successfully land jobs in the skilled trades and earn family-sustaining wages.”

Childcare, recruitment, and improving worksite culture

This new funding will support three core areas identified as needed to hire and retain a diverse workforce in the building trades: 

• $11.8 million will go towards offsetting the cost of childcare for pre-apprentices and apprentices. Flexible childcare funding has been identified as one of the primary barriers that women apprentices face in the construction industry. They often need to start working on a jobsite before many daycares open. 
• $7.2 million to support targeted recruitment efforts to improve gender representation and advance equity. 
• $7 million to improve worksite culture by providing mentoring and mental health support. This funding supports anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for construction crews to create a more welcoming environment for all.

ERiCA awardees

This is the second round of ERiCA grant funding. During the first round, $25 million in funds were disbursed to 19 programs.

In this round, 25 building trades organizations that work with programs to recruit, support, and retain workers are receiving funding. Awardee highlights include:

• Cerritos College received $1.25 million in ERiCA funding, which will be used to support its field ironwork apprenticeship program, where women are learning how to reinforce concrete with steel and cables.
• Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building Trades Council Apprenticeship Readiness Fund received $2.5 million for childcare, recruitment, and worksite culture. This nationally recognized program provides the skills and training needed to launch successful careers in a range of essential trades, including painting, plumbing, sheet metal works and more. 
• San Diego Electrical Training Trust received $700,000 in funding. Through this program, apprentices are obtaining hands-on experience in sustainable construction projects and learning about electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as solar system design and installation.
• Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California received $550,000 in funding. Over the next two years, the organization is striving to double the number of women enrolled in its programs through outreach efforts and strategic partnerships with flagship groups such as the National Association of Women in Construction.
• The Construction Trades Workforce Initiative (CTWI) is a program that has demonstrated success and has been awarded $2.4 million. Apprentices who graduate from CTWI typically earn starting wages of $75,000 or more per year. 

How we got here 

The state plans to invest $180 billion in infrastructure over the next decade. Workforce development and apprenticeships are central to California’s plan to meet infrastructure needs and large-scale development projects. Governor Gavin Newsom aims to serve 500,000 apprentices by 2029.

Expanding access to equitable building trades apprenticeships is outlined as a key strategy to advance apprenticeships in California, which is outlined by DAS and the Labor Workforce Development Agency’s Five-Point Action Plan.

About the Division of Apprenticeship Standards 

The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce by establishing innovative apprenticeship programs that offer training, to create viable career pathways for Californians.

SOURCE: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2025/2025-76.html