Women’s vocational training teaches them specific skills for a specific job or profession. Cosmetology, nursing, and specific training for a home-based business or technical field are examples of these. Women can enroll in a vocational or community college, or take online classes. In countries where there is a cultural bias against women working, governments are increasingly recognizing the potential for economic gain when previously unschooled women are trained to generate income.
Degrees and certificates are available from community colleges, trade schools, and online course programs that prepare students for practical work in their chosen field. Courses in healthcare, legal assistance, and cosmetology are just a few of the options. Women can now enroll in technical programs in fields such as heating and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and auto mechanics, which have traditionally been dominated men. The number of women training in these fields is increasing in many countries.
Women can also get vocational training serving in the military. Basic training teaches skills needed for certain jobs within the infrastructure in most countries that allow females to join. These skills are easily transferable if the soldier is later discharged. Some offer apprenticeship programs in a variety of fields, including electrical, mechanics, and nursing. Many enlistees leave the military with more than enough training and practical experience to find work in the civilian sector.
Employer-sponsored training and tuition assistance programs assist current employees in moving up the corporate ladder. It is usually less expensive to improve the skills of existing employees than to hire outside replacements. This can be an excellent source of vocational training for women, as well as a way for them to earn money while learning. If a worker leaves the company in the future, certificates and credentials in computer and information technology, human resources, or accounting can be transferred to other jobs.
In still-developing countries, there is a push to educate women so that they can work outside the home. Small manufacturing opportunities, such as making clothing or personal care products, can provide women who would not otherwise pursue higher education with a way to support their families. Women in rural and impoverished areas are empowered to improve their economic status through government-sponsored vocational training, as well as training provided humanitarian organizations and private educational groups. They also emphasize education, health, and literacy, which can be beneficial to the entire community.