The context of this study was to examine factors contributing to significant workforce shortages in building trades in the United States. As it is, recruitment of qualified skilled trades workers is becoming increasingly difficult due to lack of a pipeline of prospective workers, and training programs. The study assumed a theoretical inquiry…

A significant workforce shortage exists in most skilled trades areas in the U.S., but this is especially true in building and construction trades. The number of jobs in the construction industry is expected to grow by almost 20% between 2008 to 2018, while only growing by 11% for all other industries. With the prospect of significant shortages in…

A life sciences undergraduate apprenticeship initiative was run during the vacations at a South African university. In particular, the initiative aimed to increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Annually 12-18 undergraduate biology students were apprenticed to various institutions during the January and July vacations from…

This article investigates the extent to which exceptionally gifted women in vocational training differ from their exceptionally gifted male colleagues. On the basis of a Swiss follow-up study of the development of performance excellence of particularly gifted apprentices, three areas were investigated in more detail: choice of occupation, stress…

This article examines the increased incidence of work-related qualifications for women in areas of work served by the vocational education and training (VET) system in Australia. Until 20 years ago, qualifications were generally available only for areas of work usually undertaken by men, apart from a few specific "women's occupations"…

The operation of the U.S. Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training was examined to determine the following: (1) the use of apprenticeship to train workers; (2) federal and state resources dedicated to administering apprenticeship; and (3) the representation of minorities and women in apprenticeship. Information was obtained from the U.S. Department…

Discusses nonformal education programs for women in four categories, as well as nonvocational education programs, constraints, problems, directions, and strategies. The four categories are part-time facilities in formal educational institutions; in-plant training; on-the-job training by employers; and courses offered by public and private sector…

An 18-month demonstration program was conducted by the Northern Virginia Cooperative Vocational Education Department of the Fairfax County Public Schools, in partnership with the Virginia Merit Shop Foundation, to recruit and train apprentices for eight construction trades. Emphasis was placed on recruiting women, members of minority groups, and…

A study examined the measures taken in seven colleges in the Hunter Region of New South Wales to promote the entry of women into nontraditional trades. Questionnaires were given to all female apprentices in nontraditional trades and a random sample of male apprentices in the same trades in 1983; all female apprentices who withdrew from training in…