June 9, 2003
Senator Clinton Calls for Better Opportunities
for Women in the Workforce
Bipartisan Senate resolution calls for greater attention to be paid to breaking down the barriers that women face in entering the skilled trades
Washington, DC- Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) joined Senator Susan Collins (ME) today in introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution pledging to help more women obtain the skills they need to apply for higher paying jobs in the skilled trades.
Last month, one of the only bright spots in the Department of Labor's unemployment statistics was the increase of 26,000 construction jobs. Very few of those jobs went to women however, because they lack the skills necessary to undertake them. Despite 30 years of progress, women still comprise only 4.1% of construction workers, 2.7% of electricians and only 1.7% of carpenters. Senator Clinton's resolution calls for greater attention to be paid to breaking down the barriers that women face in entering the skilled trades and urges policymakers, labor unions and industry leaders to look at different labor pools to address existing and future skills shortages.
"Women stood side-by-side with men and removed debris and cleaned the sites at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Their efforts helped rebuild our spirits, and it is time for us to help more women acquire those skills so they too can work in a field that builds homes and offices across New York and America," Senator Clinton said. "While the number of women who serve as our firefighters, electricians, and construction workers has increased, we need to knock down barriers and create more job opportunities in the skilled trades for women."
The Department of Labor predicts a shortage of 12.3% in the skilled trades over the next seven years. Senator Clinton believes that providing women with job training in the trades will give them the opportunity to earn a higher wage and better provide for their families. Over a lifetime, an electrician will earn at least $1 million more than a typical cashier or childcare provider, and a woman who works as a truck driver can earn on average $17.50 per hour. That could mean a substantial increase for the 77 percent of women who fill the wait staff workforce and earn $6.55 per hour. Not only would women's salaries benefit from entering the building trades, but they would also receive health care benefits as well.
On Thursday June 5th, Senators Clinton and Collins sponsored an informational briefing about this issue. Monica Harwell, a single mother of two young girls and a Con Edison Overhead Instructor in New York spoke about her experience. Ms. Harwell volunteered at Ground Zero and is the first woman to hold the position of line constructor, formerly referred to as lineman, at Con Edison. "Entering this line of work completely changed my life. I can provide for my family and afford to live in a nice home. I don't have to worry about my future."
At the event, Senator Clinton commended her and all of the workers for their efforts at Ground Zero, including the women, who put in countless hours around the clock to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts.
"Helping women enter the trades is not just good for women and their families, it is good for businesses," Senator Clinton said, "Businesses will need to fill job vacancies and many women would be interested in pursuing careers in the skilled trades if they had the training."
Senator Clinton's other co-sponsors on the resolution include Senator Patty Murray (WA), Senator Edward M. Kennedy (MA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (WA).
[Text of the Resolution is attached]
Resolution honoring tradeswomen
Whereas women worked side by side with men for long shifts under dangerous conditions to rescue individuals, remove debris, and prepare the sites for future use at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and in the Shanksville, Pennsylvania field after the September 11th terrorist attacks;
Whereas the number of tradeswoman has risen dramatically over the last 30 years, but remains startlingly low;
Whereas while the number of women carpenters has tripled since 1972,they still only represent 1.7 percent of workers in the occupation;
Whereas the number of electricians who are female has quadrupled over that same time period, yet women make up only 2.7 percent of electricians;
Whereas the number of women who are firefighters has increased by 6 fold, yet women account for only 3 percent of all firefighters;
Whereas the skilled trades industry is experiencing a significant labor shortage, which will be exacerbated over the next 2 decades as many skilled workers retire;
Whereas the United States Department of Labor projects job growth in the skilled trades industry at 12.3 percent through the year 2010;
Whereas the National Association of Manufacturers reports a projected need for 10,000,000 new skilled workers by 2020,and the Associated General Contractors predicts a shortage of 250,000 skilled workers per year;
Whereas the average age of a construction worker is 47;
Whereas many women are employed in jobs that pay only a minimum wage and do not provide benefits, such as health insurance;
Whereas 59 percent of women earn $8 per hour, and while women constitute 47 percent of the workforce, they make up 60 percent of the working poor;
Whereas 44 percent of women are reported to be the sole supporter of themselves or their families;
Whereas the majority of women are segregated into 20 out of 440 occupations;
Whereas women could increase their earnings significantly by obtaining skills that allow them to become tradeswomen, for example a journey level electrician will make over $1,000,000 more than a typical cashier in a 30-year career;
Whereas women make up 77 percent of all wait staff who earn $6.55 an hour, on average, and only 5 percent of truck drivers who make an average of $17.50 an hour; and
Whereas women need greater access to training and opportunities to participate in skilled trades occupations;
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,
That it is the sense of the Senate that -
(1) There should be more attention paid to breaking down the barriers that women face in entering the skilled trades; and
(2) Policymakers, labor unions and industry leaders should look at different labor pools to address existing and future skills shortages.
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