Women enter electrical apprenticeship programs about nine years later than men, at age 27, according to a survey by the University of Oklahoma’s Lemon Construction Science Division. In the United States, the New York Times reported that the average age of first-time mothers was 26.3 in 2016.
NECA-IBEW 48 considered these factors when constructing an incentive to increase the number of women working in the electrical trade.
Working with benefit provider Harrison Trust, Oregon IBEW locals 48, 280, 659 and 932 doubled their maternity leaves to 26 weeks. Now their leave policies begin pregnancy-related downtime 13 weeks before doctor-certified due dates.
The program, which took effect at the start of 2020, pays for 26 weeks of health insurance premiums for female employees and their family members. It also pays $800 per week for 26 weeks in addition to Family Medical Leave Act benefits.
So far, 24 women have taken advantage of the program.
“It definitely appeals to women who want to work in the trades,” said Elizabeth Williams, a new mother completing the 9th term of her inside electrician apprenticeship. “For young women who want a family but who also want a career, that’s a hard thing to juggle. This program helps make that possible.”
“With public contracts requiring electrical contractors to employ more women, it’s definitely important to attract more women,” said Bridget Quinn, workforce development coordinator at the NECA-IBEW 48 Electrical Training Center.
Multnomah County, where Portland is located, requires electrical contractors used for public projects have female workers account for 6% of their workforce.
“We definitely need more women in our industry,” said Garth Bachman, business manager for IBEW 48. Serving the Portland area and southern Washington, Local 48 employs 5,400 apprentices and journey-level workers. Of those, just 350 (roughly 6%) are women.
A husband and father, Bachman worked hard to establish the program and worked closely with Tim Gauthier, secretary/executive manager for NECA’s Oregon-Columbia Chapter.
“What we saw is that there is a shortage of qualified electricians,” Bachman said. “Our motivation was not just to attract female electricians, but to retain them.”
The enhanced coverage also acknowledges that working on a construction job can be extremely challenging in the final trimester, Bachman said. “Some women find it challenging to balance and climb ladders, and that can be dangerous. This provides a way to be safe.”
