CareerRise seeks proposals from qualified consultants or firms to conduct qualitative research exploring women’s perceptions and experiences related to non-traditional occupations (NTOs) — including careers in construction, skilled trades, and manufacturing. The goal of this project is to better understand how young women view NTO career pathways, what attracts or deters women to enter these occupations, and what workplace practices can make these fields specifically and apprenticeships generally more inclusive and supportive for women. Findings from this research will inform future outreach, program development, and employer engagement efforts under the Women in Apprenticeships and Non-traditional Occupations (WANTO) Project.
Objectives
The selected consultant will be responsible for designing and implementing a qualitative research process that:
1. Captures the perspectives of young women preparing to enter the workforce.
2. Documents the experiences of women currently employed in NTOs.
3. Examines the experiences of female apprentices participating in apprenticeship programs.
4. Synthesizes findings into a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.
Scope of Work and Tasks
Task 1: Youth Roundtables
- Collaborate with CareerRise to identify potential targets for youth
- Gather responses from current female high school students using methods that are most suitable for the project, such as surveys, roundtable discussions, interviews, etc.
- Develop guiding questions to explore perceptions of non-traditional occupations, including:
- Interest levels and motivations for pursuing NTO
- Roadblocks to pursuing NTO
- Factors that make these fields more or less
- Gaps in information or misconceptions about
- Summarize themes and insights from
Deliverables:
- Data collection
- Summary of findings and recommended actions for workforce development
Task 2: Insights from Women in the Field
- Collaborate with CareerRise to identify potential targets for worker
- Gather responses from women currently working in non-traditional occupations using methods that are most suitable for the project, such as surveys, roundtable discussions, interviews, etc.
- Explore career decision-making, work experiences, barriers, and
- Identify employer practices that contribute to a more supportive and appealing work environment for women
- Identify employer practices that may contribute to a woman leaving work in non-traditional occupations.
Deliverables:
- Data collection
- Summary of findings and recommended actions for workforce development
Task 3: Apprenticeship Insights
- Collaborate with CareerRise to identify potential targets for apprentice
- Gather responses from women currently working as apprentices in non-traditional occupations using methods that are most suitable for the project, such as surveys, roundtable discussions, interviews, etc.
- Explore motivations for pursuing apprenticeships, experiences within the program, and perceived challenges or benefits.
- Identify factors that could make apprenticeship pathways more attractive to
Deliverables:
- Data collection
- Summary of findings and recommended actions for workforce development
Task 4: Findings and Recommendations Report
- Synthesize data collected from youth, women in the field, and apprentices into a single comprehensive report.
- Analyze key themes, highlight challenges and opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations for program design, outreach, employer engagement, and system-level actions.
Deliverables:
- Draft Findings Report for review by
- Final Findings and Recommendations Report including:
- Executive Summary
- Methodology
- Key findings by stakeholder group
- Cross-cutting themes
- Recommendations
CareerRise seeks to hear from researchers and firms with experience engaging women and workforce populations. Here’s what you need to know:
- Scope of Work: https://lnkd.in/em3barPw. Click here for the full RFP.
- Info Session: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Click here to register.
- Submit Your Proposal: https://lnkd.in/eNSEt5KD.
Questions? Email CareerRise at team@careerriseatlanta.org. CareerRise looks forward to reviewing your proposals!