The financial boom in Illinois opens the door for more women in infrastructure jobs
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ILLINOIS (WCIA) – The federal government is providing Illinois with more than $1 million to help get more women into construction jobs.
Officials said it was a much-needed investment to increase the industry’s equity. Nationally, about 4% of construction professionals are women, and in Illinois, only 5% of construction apprentices are women. You want those numbers to grow.
The grant money is part of the more than $1 trillion federal bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden. It goes to the Illinois Department of Labor and the Chicago Women in Trades organization. This enables them to guide contractors, unions and other groups in putting together programs that ensure workforce equality in infrastructure projects.
Gov. Pritzker said the federal money would help break down barriers for women who have historically been excluded from opportunities in the construction industry.
“Illinois is a national leader in opening the way for women into infrastructure and construction jobs,” said Pritzker. “The status quo does not reflect the tremendous talent that exists across all of our communities and especially among women, and we cannot rebuild better and stronger unless we move everyone forward.”
The state has already made investments through the Rebuild Illinois and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to give women and people of color better opportunities to enter these jobs. Craftswomen’s organizations will lead efforts to develop plans aimed at increasing women’s participation in construction and infrastructure jobs.
