Women & the Green Economy
Background | Legislation | Updates | Resources | Action
Background
In many ways, the greening of jobs is a new approach to old “non-traditional” occupations. Green jobs are being created in manufacturing, constructions and information technology--all sectors where women are underrepresented. In workforce jargon, these occupations are known as “nontraditional jobs” for women, because women are 25 percent or less of that workforce. Nontraditional jobs for women often pay 20 to 30 percent more than those traditionally female jobs and often provide better benefits, greater career and training opportunities and higher job satisfaction.
Business and Professional Women's Foundation encourages women to pursue any career, any field, any position and is committed to increasing the number of women in better-paying, non-traditional fields and ensuring that the careers of the future are pursued equally by all genders.
Legislation
- Women & Workforce Investment for Nontraditional Jobs Act (HR 4830) - The Women WIN Jobs Act will help recruit, prepare, place and retain women in the high-demand, high wage jobs of the future.
Updates
Defining Green Jobs
April 30, 2010
The question is almost cliché at this point: What is a green job? The Bureau of Labor Statistics asked and BPW Foundation answered. BPW Foundation knows that a job can only truly be green if the position is available to all. For the green economy to be fully realized, there must be an emphasis on access, equity and career growth for those performing the work of making our world more energy efficient.
Women WIN Jobs Act Has 48 Co-Sponsors
April 21, 2010
The National Coalition on Women, Jobs and Job Training, of which BPW Foundation is a member, held a hearing on the Women and Workforce Investment for Nontraditional Jobs Act (HR 4830). Sponsored by Rep. Polis (CO-2) and Rep. DeLauro (CO-3), the Women WIN Jobs Act supports outreach, education, training, and placement of women in non-traditional occupations. In addition, it supports services such as child-care and post-employment retention to help women “embark on career paths that lead to self sufficiency in any field where they represent less than 25% of the workforce.” Ask your Representative to sponsor the Women WIN Jobs Act
Legislation to Expand Women's Access to High-Paying Jobs
March 11, 2010
Reps. Polis (CO-2) and DeLauro (CT-3) introduced H.R. 4830, the Women and Workforce Investment for Nontraditional Jobs (Women WIN Jobs) Act—to fight gender inequity in the workplace and give low-income women a pathway out of poverty. Nontraditional jobs—those in which women comprise 25% or less of employees—pay 20%-30% more than traditionally female jobs, but only 6.2% of women are employed in these occupations. The Women WIN jobs act creates a new federal grant program to help recruit, prepare, place and retain women in high-demand, high-wage nontraditional jobs. This bill will enable women to become self-sufficient and earn more while simultaneously boosting our nation’s economy.
BPW Educates Business Leaders about Women Veterans in the Workplace
January 13, 2010
BPW Foundation CEO Deborah L. Frett spoke to attendees at a Conference on Returning Veterans hosted by Towson University and the Maryland National Guard. The goal of the conference was to raise awareness about the challenges newly returning veterans face when they attempt to enter or re-enter the workforce and to provide employers with knowledge and the resources necessary to support veterans.
More Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
January 19, 2010
BPW Foundation CEO Deborah L. Frett was invited to meet with White House and Treasury Dept officials to discuss job creation and women’s employment. Ms. Frett emphasized BPW Foundation's three pronged approach to job creation 1) legislation, 2) working with businesses to find qualified workers through tools such as the BPW Foundation Career Center and 3) empowering women through education and job training through projects like Moving from Red to Green: Working Women in the Green Economy
Transportation Secretary Encourages States to Hire Women
January 7, 2010
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wrote to all governors urging them to hire women and to increase opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses to participate in transportation projects. He said he and President Obama are committed to using the equal opportunity resources the department has at its disposal, including the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program for entrepreneurs and training and technical assistance provided through the Federal Highway Administration.
President Extends COBRA Coverage
January 4, 2010
President Obama signed legislation extending the COBRA premium reduction an additional two months. The COBRA premium subsidy was originally enacted as part of the 2009 Recovery Act. Under the new law, employees must have faced involuntary termination between September 1, 2008, and February 28, 2010, in order to qualify for the COBRA benefits.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
December 11, 2009
When they are not talking about health care reform, Afghanistan or climate change, policymakers are talking about jobs. Although recent news is better - the unemployment rate dropped from 10.2 percent to 10 percent in November – this has been the worst recession in terms of job loss since World War II.
Some of the hardest-hit groups are teenagers, people of color, those with a high school education or less and unmarried women. Unmarried women represent less than half of all women workers, but they represent 60 percent of unemployed women. Unmarried women who head families have an unemployment rate of 12.6 percent.
Last week, President Obama hosted a Jobs Summit and has proposed more tax cuts for small business, investing in road, bridges and infrastructure, and creating jobs through energy efficiency and clean energy investments. The president noted that even though the economy is now growing, the pace of growth does not look like it will be high enough to put the 15.4 million unemployed workers back on the job. Congress is expected to take action on a comprehensive Jobs Bill sometime in early 2010, but some of the Administrations proposal may make into the Defense Appropriations bill slated to be voted on this month. Read More >>>
Tell us what you think... In your opinion, what would be the best way to create more jobs in the US?
Sustainable Job Talks With WalMart, Kraft, Coca Cola and More
October 13, 2009
BPW Foundation’s Stefanie Gans attended Walmart’s Pennsylvania Green Jobs Council meeting to explore how the state can grow sustainable and living-wage jobs. Walmart’s major suppliers, such as Coca Cola and Kraft, as well as representatives of the Philadelphia’s Mayor’s office and local Chambers of Commerce, workforce industry experts and environmental groups were also involved in this intimate roundtable discussion.
Updating Gender Equity Goals in Federal Contracting
October 1, 2009
Reps. DeLauro (D-CT) and Stark (D-CA) and 24 of their colleagues sent a letter to Labor Secretary Solis urging her to update the affirmative action goals set in 1980 (based on 1970 census data). Recalculating the goal for female participation in federal contracts is a small, but important step for the Federal government to take in ensuring equal access to the jobs created by government contracts.
BPW Foundation Talks About Green Jobs in Philly
July 20, 2009
BPW Foundation CEO Deborah L. Frett spoke on a panel on “Green Jobs: Training Initiatives and Partnerships" at the 2009 National Conference of State Legislators Summit held in Philadelphia. She briefed the legislators about BPW Foundation’s Red to Green Initiative.
Funds for Women Job Training in Transportation Bill
May 14, 2009
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Training Act of 2009 (H.R. 2444) that would mandate states spend ½ of 1% of federal highway funds on transportation-related skill and technology training directed at ensuring equal employment for under-represented groups, including women. Currently, only 17 states avail themselves of the provision. “This bill will mount a major national infrastructure program focused on job creation with a well-designed component of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that can lead to high-paying journeymen jobs for new who workers who will be needed in the future,” Norton said.
Women Job Training Legislation Introduced
April 23, 2009
Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Pathways Advancing Career Training Act (HR 2074). The PACT Act provides assistance to the states for training programs that prepare women for employment in high-wage, high-skill fields where they are often underrepresented. It would also allow states to develop and support programs that address barriers to employment faced by single mothers, displaced homemakers, women re-entering the workforce, and victims of domestic violence.
Green Jobs for Women in the Climate Change Bill
June 12, 2009
BPW Foundation joined a broad coalition of women’s rights advocates, community-based organizations, organized labor, job training, and economic justice organizations to encourage the House Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure that women benefit from the federal spending on energy projects included in the climate change bill currently being considered. The climate change bill presents a unique opportunity to target quality green jobs and training opportunities to workers and communities who traditionally have been left out of opportunities to share in our nation’s success. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA) passed the House and is awaiting Senate consideration.
