Sacramento, CA, August 11, 2025
News Summary
The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced $26 million in grants to enhance gender and racial equality in the construction industry. These funds will support 25 construction apprenticeship programs catered towards women and disadvantaged communities. The initiative follows an earlier grant distribution and aims to address the low participation of women in the construction trades. A new training program designed for women in Northern California will also launch soon, as the state targets ambitious apprenticeship training goals.
California Awards $26 Million in Grants to Boost Women and Disadvantaged Communities in Construction Apprenticeship Programs
Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced the allocation of $26 million in grants aimed at promoting gender and racial equality in the construction industry. The funding, part of the Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) initiative, will benefit 25 construction apprenticeship programs focused on increasing access for women and disadvantaged communities.
This round of ERiCA grants comes after an initial distribution of $25 million in funding awarded to 19 programs in a previous cycle. The newly awarded funds are dedicated to enhancing recruitment, support, and retention efforts in the construction workforce, which has long been dominated by male labor.
Highlighted Award Recipients
Among the recipients are key organizations with distinct initiatives:
- Cerritos College: awarded $1.25 million to enhance its field ironwork apprenticeship program.
- Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building Trades Council Apprenticeship Readiness Fund: received $2.5 million to improve childcare options, recruitment strategies, and worksite culture.
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California: granted $550,000, with a goal to double the enrollment of women in its programs within two years.
New Training Initiative
A new program launching on April 7 in Northern California aims specifically at recruiting women into trade professions through an all-women’s Multi Craft Core Curriculum apprentice readiness program. This six-week initiative will provide hands-on training across nearly 20 trade fields, including apprenticeship opportunities, safety training, and math skills.
The Sacramento Joint Building Trades Council (SJBTC) is currently seeking applications for this program which aims to assist women in successfully applying to union apprenticeship programs in construction.
State Goals and Current Workforce Statistics
California Labor Secretary Natalie Palugyai emphasized the need for significant expansion in the apprenticeship sector. The governor’s goal is to train 500,000 apprentices by 2029, necessitating a doubling of current apprenticeship numbers. In response, the state budget also includes provisions for “innovation funding” dedicated to scaling apprenticeship intermediaries alongside funding for supplemental instruction that aligns with community college courses.
Despite the projected increase in job opportunities within construction, the participation of women in apprenticeship programs remains critically low, with only 4% of apprentices in California construction trades being women in 2021. This represents a decline from participation rates in the early 2000s, a trend partially attributed to California’s affirmative action ban.
Challenges for Women in Construction
Programs such as WINTER (Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles) strive to attract women to construction apprenticeships; however, they have faced numerous challenges, particularly during the pandemic, which resulted in canceled training cohorts and loss of training venues. The Executive Director of WINTER raised concerns about unstable living conditions that may deter potential trainees, highlighting the importance of having a robust support system. Case managers are deemed essential in aiding women transition into construction careers, while increased marketing efforts are recommended to raise awareness about opportunities in the building trades.
In the upcoming budget year, the state plans to allocate $15 million for a “Women in Construction Priority Program” to further bolster efforts for increasing women’s participation in the field.
FAQs
What are the ERiCA grants?
The Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grants are allocated by the California Department of Industrial Relations to promote access for women and disadvantaged communities in construction apprenticeship programs.
How much funding was awarded in the latest ERiCA grant round?
This second round of ERiCA funding awarded a total of $26 million to 25 apprenticeship programs.
What is the goal of the state regarding apprenticeship programs?
The Governor’s goal is to train 500,000 apprentices by 2029, which requires a doubling of the number of current apprentices in the state.
Key Features and Statistics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Total Grants Awarded | $26 million |
| Programs Funded | 25 construction apprenticeship programs |
| First Round Funding | $25 million to 19 programs |
| Women in Construction Apprenticeships (2021) | 4% participation rate |
| Future Budget Allocation | $15 million for Women in Construction Priority Program |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Insurance Journal: California Announces $26 Million for Women in Construction
- MSN Money: California Invests in Women Construction Careers
- KCRA: ValleyBuild Trains Women in Northern California
- LAist: California’s Push for Women in Construction Apprenticeships
- California Globe: Apprenticeship Programs Under the Labor Code
- Wikipedia: Construction Industry
- Google Search: Women in Construction
- Google Scholar: Construction Apprenticeships California
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Apprenticeship
- Google News: Women in Construction California
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