Raimondo Pledges Chips Money for Training That Boosts Diversity

  • Funds will help with apprenticeships, Commerce chief says
  • Women, Black workers make up small minority of industry
Commerce Secretary Raimondo on Women's Employment Gains
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President Joe Biden’s Commerce chief pledged to use part of the $52 billion package that Congress is weighing for the American semiconductor industry to invest in training that helps diversify what’s a notoriously male-dominated workforce.

The proposed chips investment will create tens of thousands of jobs in a sector where only 10% of workers are women and 4% are Black, Secretary Gina Raimondo said at Bloomberg’s Equality Summit. She pledged to put part of the proposed funding to work in apprenticeships and job training in partnership with businesses.