Nontraditional Opportunities

Region 16 Supports Nontraditional Career Development

The goal of the Career and Technical Education Equity Program is to help students recognize all career opportunities, unrestricted by gender, social or cultural expectations. We strive to improve the achievement of special population students in CTE programs that lead to high skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers. A nontraditional career is any occupation in which women or men comprise less than 25 percent of its total employment. These careers often offer higher wages, better benefits and broader job opportunities, especially for female students.

Reasons Why You Should Consider a Nontraditional CTE Program 

• Careers should be based on abilities and interests, not gender stereotypes
• Women can earn up to 30% more working in nontraditional jobs 
• Over a lifetime, women in nontraditional occupations will earn 150% more than women in traditional occupations
• There is a high demand for skilled employees in nontraditional occupations such as automotive, construction trades, culinary and computer science

How Region 16 CTE Centers Support Nontraditional Students

Nontraditional Role Models: 

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CTE connects nontraditional students with industry nontraditional role models worthy of imitation, who serve to motivate and inspire this student population. These role models typically mirror the student in some way, such as same gender, and often are classroom guest speakers, or industry people who offer job shadow or internship opportunities.

Nontraditional Mentors: 

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CTE nontraditional mentors are experienced and trusted advisors, who offer advice and guidance to individual students through a CTE program or job opportunity. Nontraditional mentors provide ongoing encouragement, foster student achievement, and expand the concept of gender roles in business and industry.

Nontraditional Activities:

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CTE Centers across Region 16, and the state, actively engage nontraditional students with industry nontraditional career professionals in public events and intimate settings. These activities ensure that nontraditional students have an opportunity to talk with and get to know like-minded industry people who share the challenges, opportunities and rewards of being a female/male professional in a male/female-dominated profession.

Nontraditional Career Fields