Nontraditional Programs

Nontraditional Careers refers to jobs that have been traditionally filled by one gender. Nontraditional occupations are occupations for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25% of the individuals employed. Examples are males in nursing an​​d childcare and females in technologies and plumbing. Promoting nontraditional career opportunities opens doors for every individual. It breaks the mold of expectations and allows all learners to explore a wide range of career opportunities in an atmosphere free from stereotypes of gender and jobs. Women are more often the focus of nontraditional programs because the opportunity to earn higher wages exists in occupations that are commonly nontraditional for women. Although occupations that are commonly nontraditional for men often do not yield higher wages, they may provide increased job satisfaction and opportunities for career advancement.

For on-going equity resources, visit Stem Equity Initiative​. This site includes resources from recent Perkins nontraditional presentations and webinars, publications, posters, toolkits, short videos, and examples of nontraditional outreach from CTE programs across Pennsylvania. All are available at no charge.

Or consider joining the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity​. Pennsylvania maintains a state membership making the cost for affiliate membership just $150 for secondary and postsecondary institutions. This is an allowable Perkins expenditure.​

Suggested ​Resources

• CIP Codes Aligned with Nontraditional Occupations
• Checking Text for Bias
• Equity Tips
• Seven Forms of Bias
• Recruitment and Retention Tip Sheet
• Using Role Models