Workforce Equity Lab: Expanding Career Pathways & Building Inclusive Workplaces.
Our Story
Our Story
Workforce Equity Lab was created with a simple belief: everyone deserves access to careers that provide stability, dignity, and purpose.
For too long, women and disadvantaged communities have been steered toward low-wage jobs, while family-sustaining careers in union construction and environmental fields felt out of reach. WEL is here to change that.
We partner with unions, employers, and community organizations to break barriers, open doors, and build inclusive worksites where everyone can thrive. Our work isn’t just about training for jobs — it’s about creating equity, changing culture, and transforming lives.
Building equity. Breaking barriers. Creating futures.
Our Mission:
Workforce Equity Lab is dedicated to advancing economic and social equity by expanding access to high-wage, high-quality careers for underrepresented communities. Through research, advocacy, and innovative workforce development programs, we strive to dismantle systemic barriers and create sustainable pathways to economic mobility.
Tradeswomen
Supporting Success in Trades
At Workforce Equity Lab, we are dedicated to empowering women in union construction and the building trades. We know that entering and advancing in this field takes more than technical skill — it takes confidence, community, and support.
That’s why our training programs and workshops are designed specifically for women, equipping you with the tools to thrive in apprenticeships and union careers. From hands-on skills training to job readiness workshops, financial literacy, and leadership development, we provide the resources you need to step confidently into high-wage, family-sustaining careers.
A cornerstone of our work is building strong mentorship connections. We match apprentices with experienced tradeswomen who can guide, encourage, and share hard-earned knowledge about navigating the industry. We also train unions and apprenticeship programs on how to create and sustain effective mentorship frameworks — ensuring that every woman has the support she deserves on her career journey.
Beyond training, WEL offers supportive services such as one-on-one coaching, retention and placement assistance, and referrals to wraparound resources like childcare and transportation. Together, these services help remove barriers and ensure women can stay and succeed in the trades.
By combining workshops, mentorship, and a supportive community, we empower women not only to enter the construction industry, but to thrive, lead, and build lasting change for themselves and their families.
Technical Assistance
We provide hands-on support to unions, employers, and community organizations, helping design, mentor programs, tradeswomen support groups, improve, and scale programs that work. From curriculum development and workplace equity strategies to compliance and reporting, we ensure your initiatives succeed while fostering inclusive, high-performing environments.
Join Us As A Volunteer
At Workforce Equity Lab, volunteers play a vital role in supporting our training or mentorship programs, community events, and outreach efforts. Whether you can donate time to teach a class/workshop, use your expertise, or mentor a tradeswoman, donate money or tools for our Tool Library, your contribution helps create equitable opportunities for all.
Explore
ABOUT US
Committed to Equity and Excellence
At The Workforce Equity Lab, we are committed to driving equity and inclusion in the workforce, with a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for women and opportunity youth in union construction and environmental careers. Our team specializes in providing mission-driven organizations with tailored solutions, expert guidance, and innovative strategies to address systemic barriers. By fostering collaborative partnerships and implementing sustainable practices, we empower nonprofits to thrive, achieve their goals, and create lasting, transformative change in their communities.
GET IN TOUCH
Let’s Collaborate
Join Us in Building Equity in the Trades
At Workforce Equity Lab, we believe that creating equity in union construction and the building trades is a collective effort. It takes employers, unions, apprenticeship programs, tradeswomen, and community partners coming together to open doors and build supportive pathways.
We invite you to partner with us in this work. Whether you are an employer seeking skilled, job-ready workers, a union or apprenticeship program looking to strengthen mentorship and retention, a tradeswoman building your career, or a community member who wants to support women in the trades — there is a place for you at WEL.
Through our training programs and workshops, women gain the hands-on skills, confidence, and resources to thrive in apprenticeships and union careers. We also collaborate with unions and apprenticeship programs to create mentorship frameworks that ensure women are supported throughout their career journeys.
Beyond training, we provide wraparound services such as one-on-one coaching, retention and placement assistance, and referrals for childcare, transportation, and other essential needs — because success requires more than technical skill alone.
Together, we can remove barriers, strengthen opportunities, and build a future where women in the trades not only enter the industry, but thrive, lead, and create lasting change for their families and communities.
