Strengthening Families by Helping Women Access High-Skill, High-Wage Jobs

Press Release

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) and Linda T. Sanchez (CA-39) introduced the Pathways Advancing Career Training Act, which would help unemployed and underemployed women train for and thrive in family-supporting work.

The PACT Act would provide assistance to states for training programs that prepare women for employment in high-wage, high-skill fields where they are often underrepresented. DeLauro's bill would support programs that address barriers to employment for single parents, displaced homemakers, and divorced and widowed women re-entering the workforce after extended periods of time at home caring for family members.

"Ensuring women have the tools they need to succeed in our high-skilled economy is not just about women, it is about families. The Pathways and Advancing Career Training Act ensures that women have access to quality job training programs. In doing so, we can help women gain the resources they need to provide their children a better future - the great promise of our American dream," said DeLauro.

At current rates, the U.S. will require 15 million workers with postsecondary training in the next two decades, but will add just 3 million workers with this level of training. By targeting a relatively untapped section of the current and potential workforce, this legislation provides a common-sense solution to address the looming skilled labor shortage.

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