34:15D-5.1 Findings, declarations relative to under-represented participants in apprenticeships. 1. The Legislature finds and declares that women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are under-represented in the skilled trades and apprenticeship programs, despite the fact that these groups represent a large and growing portion of the workforce. As apprenticeship programs often lead to high paying jobs in growing industries, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities should be provided better access and support in benefitting from them. Although apprenticeships can benefit these groups, sometimes women, minorities, and persons with disabilities begin the programs, but leave before completion. One reason for this may be that the groups are under-represented. When they encounter harassment and discrimination or other difficulties, they may not have a trusted support network on which they can depend. For example, while all participants in federally-registered apprenticeship programs are required to receive a mentor, it is unlikely that the mentor would come from the same under-represented group as the participant. Participants who are not from under-represented groups would not face this dilemma. It is therefore an appropriate public purpose to begin, in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, a peer-to-peer mentoring program for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. L.2020, c.58, s.1.
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