The U.S. Department of Labor, headed up by former California congresswoman Hilda Solis, announced $1.8 million in grants to community-based organizations that assist women in acquiring and retaining non-traditional occupations. A “non-traditional occupation” is one in which women make up less than 25 percent of total employees–such as construction, engineering, computer science, transportation, architecture and green jobs. A few occupations considered non-traditional by the government in 1988–lawyer, mail carrier, and correctional officer–have been bumped off the list, based on 2008 data showing more gender parity.
[Via P.R. Newswire]
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This is another example of why it is so important to have women in leadership positions in government. Without Hilda Solis at the helm, this would probably never have happened.