Improving Diversity and Equity in Apprenticeships for Manufacturing

Over the next 5 years, JFF will work to provide apprenticeship opportunities in manufacturing to nearly 2,000 women and people of color.

Funder

U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship

Timeline

September 2020 – September 2025

Sectors

Advanced Manufacturing

Locations

Nationwide

Key Partners

Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT); Donna Lenhoff, EEO Consultant; Elgin Community College; Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY); Michigan Workforce Development Institute (MI WDI); Penn Foster; Progress Worx; Scott Ellsworth, Apprenticeship Consultant; Women in Manufacturing (WiM)

Key Objectives

Register 750 apprentices per year in manufacturing, with at least 50% from underrepresented populations (with a focus on women and people of color)

JFF's Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning was selected to receive a $12 million contract from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing, with a specific goal of increasing the number of women and people of color in the industry’s workforce.

As part of this work, JFF will:

Provide manufacturers, trade associations, and other organizations with technical and financial assistance;
Direct these organizations through the process of designing, registering, and launching new apprenticeship programs; and
Offer guidance on ensuring equitable and inclusive workplaces.