Over the last decade, the North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU), in coordination with state and local Building Trades Councils, has doubled the number of women apprentices and careers in the Building Trades. However, with women only accounting for 4% of the current workforce in the skilled trades, we all recognize that more must be done to truly solidify efforts to recruit and retain women in this industry.

To meet this moment, NABTU has sponsored 170 comprehensive apprenticeship-readiness training programs (ARPs) throughout the United States—and San Diego County is one of those places. This effort has delivered a roadmap for local residents – focusing on women, people of color, and transitioning veterans – to gain access to Building Trades’ registered apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship Readiness Programs provide opportunities for underserved populations to explore the various opportunities in the construction industry. NABTU-sponsored ARPs, utilizing our own Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), provide an overview of what each trade does, build much-needed math skills, and highlight the qualifications needed to successfully enroll in an apprenticeship with a Building Trades union