Oregon a national leader in recruiting women apprentices but challenges remain
OregonLive, November 4, 2015
Oregon doubles the national average when it comes to placing women in trades apprenticeship programs, but there is still a long way to go on the path to equality, advocates and government officials say.
Overall numbers of female apprenticeships remain low, however, and a recent study by two Portland State University professors found that many women see workplace discrimination and harassment as barriers to completing apprenticeships in the male-dominated highway trades.
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A 2014 report praised Oregon as one of two states making exemplary efforts to improve diversity in the highway construction trades, notably by dedicating a portion of its federal highway funding for training and support services for women and minorities. Having the state pay for such things as child care expenses, mileage, tools and clothing makes it more likely that women can continue their apprenticeships, the report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found.