For Women: Consider Non-Traditional Jobs
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-04-28 10:45:16
What is a non-traditional job? The U.S. Department of Labor defines this as an occupation in which women make up 25% or less of all workers.
Most jobs with small numbers of women workers pay more than occupations where women hold most of the jobs. Non-traditional occupations have career ladders with pay between $20 and $30 per hour.
For women workers, getting a non-traditional job usually means better pay and the chance to learn more skills.
For example, women hold fewer than 5 percent of jobs as carpet installers, pest control workers, and shuttle car operators. Fewer than 15 percent of concierges, parts salespersons, or meter readers are women. And even the jobs of upholsterers, computer programmers, and detectives have fewer than 25 percent women employees.
Special training to learn a non-traditional job may be available in your area.
Myths and Facts About Non-Traditional Jobs
Myth: Non-traditional jobs for women always require heavy lifting
Fact: Some do. Many don't. For example, companies and communities are training new workers of all ages for many different jobs in information technology and telecommunications. Train companies recruit for conductors and dispatchers. Women obtain indoor painting, plastering, and floor covering jobs. Employers recruit women for historic preservation and forest management.
Myth: There aren't many training programs for non-traditional jobs.
Fact: Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau gives grants to community-based organizations. These organizations help employers and labor unions increase the number of women in apprenticeships and nontraditional jobs in their communities.
Several national, private groups and many local agencies provide non-traditional training to women. They have formed coalitions to inform more women about what's available. Women working in nontraditional jobs have joined together - including in online discussion groups - to encourage each other and share job tips.
Of course, when workers in a trade are being laid off, the union-sponsored or other apprenticeship programs that trained them are unlikely to be recruiting and training new workers. But other apprenticeship programs are being created to train workers for the jobs that are growing in the U.S. economy.
Myth: Only younger workers can get a non-traditional job.
Fact: Most trades do not have a maximum age for apprentices or trainees. The U.S. Department of Labor gives grants to groups that help people of all ages get skill training. Many companies are interested in training reliable, mature workers.
Myth: Apprenticeships are only in construction and manufacturing.
Fact: Some are. But apprentices all around the country are also training for jobs in culinary arts, utilities, dental assistance, horticulture, sewing-machine repair, electronics, offset printing, youth development, and beekeeping.
Myth: Only large groups can run official apprenticeship programs.
Fact: Many smaller companies set up apprenticeships. Examples include jewelers, bakeries, horse farms, drafting and architectural firms, locksmiths, and graphic designers.
Learning Through Apprenticeship
One way to learn a non-traditional job is through an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship is a career training program that combines on-the-job training and technical instruction. Jobs that you can learn through an apprenticeship involve manual, mechanical, or technical skills. Depending on the occupation, apprenticeships last from one to six years. Apprentices are paid while they train. Wages go up as apprentices gain more skills.
There are more than 850 occupations learned through apprenticeships. Federal and state agencies help companies set up and operate apprenticeships. Labor unions, employer groups, and individual companies can train workers through apprenticeships.
For example, through apprenticeships, workers can learn to be dental lab technicians, funeral directors, Internet technicians, bakers, or theater set technicians.
Tips on Getting a Non-Traditional Job
- Use the Web sites below to get job ideas and find training programs in your area.
- Contact non-traditional job training programs in your area. Ask lots of questions. Get referrals to program staff you can meet with.
- Interested in a job that doesn ' t have a local training or apprentice program? Get tips from your state apprenticeship office. Propose an apprenticeship to a local employer.
- Call the federal Apprenticeship and Training Representative in your state. This Department of Labor staff person assists individuals who are interested in apprenticeship and related skills training. Get free orientation and referrals.
Additional Resources
List of Non-Traditional Jobs for Women This annual list from the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau shows the number and percent of women employed in about 160 occupations. No job here employs more than 25 percent women.
Find Training for Non-traditional Jobs Search by state or industry for non-traditional, high-wage employment training. Training programs listed are sponsored by community-based organizations, community colleges and labor unions. From Work4Women.
National Directory of Women's Education & Training Programs Click on your state to find contact information for programs that train women for good jobs. The national organization Women Work! provides this directory of thousands of programs.
Tradeswomen, Inc. Use the links, job announcements, and free newsletter from this non-profit, grassroots organization of women in non-traditional blue-collar jobs. Join online discussions to support each other and help find solutions for on-the-job challenges.
Career One-Stops Locator Find a counselor at the Career One-Stop near you to help you learn more about non-traditional jobs and apprenticeships.
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