Non-Traditional Careers
Non-Traditional Fields
Non-traditional fields are occupations or fields of work, including careers in computer science, technology, and other current and emerging high skill occupations, in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in that occupation or field of work.
Benefits of Gender Diversity
An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as:
- Increased adaptability-Organizations employing a diverse workforce can supply a greater variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocation of resources. Employees from diverse backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences in suggesting ideas that are flexible in adapting to fluctuating markets and customer demands.
- Broader service range-A diverse collection of skills and experiences (e.g. languages, cultural understanding) allows a company to provide service to customers on a global basis.
- Variety of viewpoints-A diverse workforce that feels comfortable communicating varying points of view provides a larger pool of ideas and experiences. The organization can draw from that pool to meet business strategy needs and the needs of customers more effectively.
- Diversity among employees can create better performance when it comes to out-of-the-ordinary creative tasks such as product development or cracking new markets.
Additional Research & Resources
Careers in the Construction Industry – The Balance Careers
Center for Women in Technology
Encouraging Girls in Math & Science
Equity in CTE & STEM: Root Causes and Strategies – NAPE
Guide to Career Choices – IDES
Illinois Apprenticeship Development – State-Level Partner Agencies and Organizations
Non-Traditional Careers – College of DuPage
Non-Traditional Careers Information – Cisco
STEM Equity Pipeline – NAPE
Women in Nontraditional Careers – Her Own Words
Electronic Newsletters
National Girls Collaborative Project – The NGCP informs readers about projects which encourage middle and high school girls to plan for nontraditional careers.
WomenTech Educators – The WomenTech Educators electronic newsletter provides regular information about women in technology.
Games for Students
Packetville – Cisco Systems, Inc.
Organizations
American Association of University Women – AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.
Chicago Women in Trades – CWIT works to increase the number of women in the skilled trades and other blue collar occupations and to eliminate the barriers that prohibit women from entering and remaining in non-traditional careers.
Federation of Women Contractors – FWC is a place for women in the construction industry to meet, network, build relationships and gain greater industry knowledge and business skills, all designed to grow and strengthen their companies.
National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity – NAPE is a consortium of state and local agencies, corporations, and national organizations that collaborate to create equitable and diverse classrooms and workplaces where there are no barriers to opportunities.
Nontraditional Career Resource Center at Rutgers – NCRC will focus on building collaborations between the education and workforce development communities to help increase awareness of 7th through 12th grade students regarding opportunities in nontraditional careers.
Women Employed Institute – The mission of Women Employed is to improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity.
Women in Engineering Proactive Network – WEPAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving equity in the engineering workforce. WEPAN’s mission is to be a catalyst, advocate and leading resource for institutional and national change that enables the success of all women in engineering.
Women Work – The national network for women advances economic justice and equality for women through education, advocacy and organizing.
Video/DVD Resources
Men in Nursing – Online Nursing MS Degrees
“Nursing – RN & LPN to RN” – Triton College
Women CAN Build California Recruitment Video