Jobs, Training & Career · Surprise rank #332
Woman Interested in the Building Trades? NEW Offers Free NYC Pre-Apprenticeship Training
Nontraditional Employment for Women trains women and women-identified New Yorkers for construction and other skilled-trade careers through a free pre-apprenticeship program.
Who
Women and women-identified applicants generally age 18+, authorized to work in the U.S., with a high-school diploma/GED or equivalent preparation, English proficiency and ability to meet the physical demands of trade training.
Where: New York City
What to do
Start here: Review NEW’s current programs and register for an information session or application through its official site.
Eligibility: Applicants must meet NEW’s current admissions requirements and complete its intake/selection process. Specific cohorts can have scheduling and physical-readiness requirements.
What you get
NEW provides Multi-Craft Core Curriculum pre-apprenticeship training, physical and technical preparation, certifications, career coaching and connections to apprenticeship/employment opportunities.
Benefit: Tuition-free pre-apprenticeship training plus support that can include transit assistance, food resources, childcare help, tools and job/apprenticeship preparation.
Possible value: Training is free; the larger value is avoiding private trade-school costs and gaining a path toward paid union or skilled-trade work. Employment is not guaranteed.
Good to know
Important: NEW is pre-apprenticeship training, not an automatic union membership or job. Cohort space and apprenticeship openings are limited and selection requirements apply.
Availability: Active; cohorts run on scheduled cycles.
Why people miss it: Many women never consider union construction because traditional recruitment channels are heavily male-dominated.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026