Through the program, women participants acquire key technical skills which can lead to higher-paying job opportunities. A Philadelphia program funded through the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' outreach efforts has helped women move from welfare to jobs in the construction industry by providing technical training and skills. These and other affirmative action programs are critical to closing the wage gap between men and women. Today, women earn 74 cents for every dollar earned by men. But there is still work to be done.
Persistent discrimination continues to suppress women's wages and job opportunities.
The elimination of affirmative action programs would signal a return to past exclusionary practices that cut off employment opportunities for women. Affirmative action programs are critical to bolstering the economic stability of families and making the goal of equal employment opportunity a reality. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Earnings, Table 22, January 1994.