Nadia was unemployed and receiving nutritional assistance. The pandemic made it difficult for her to secure employment, so she was living with her family. This is what brought her in to seek assistance from ARIZONA@WORK on June 7, 2021. She wanted an opportunity to apply for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant assistance to attend Phoenix Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, a four-year program.
Nadia applied and was approved for the grant to begin her education in Fall 2021. The grant assisted Nadia with costs covering the first-year costs for tuition, books, a tool kit, and uniforms required for the training program. Nadia completed the Fall 2021 semester, receiving a grade of 86%. She is now finished with her second semester and has successfully passed all exams.
Nadia also has a new job and is no longer in need of nutritional assistance. She is working full time as an electrician apprentice for Oregon Electric Group earning $19.80 per hour, working 50 hours per week.
To continue her training, Nadia has applied for additional scholarship opportunities through ARIZONA@WORK – one of which is the ‘Women in Construction’ opportunity. As she awaits the outcomes of these scholarships, Nadia says that she is committed to furthering her training and learning more about career pathways for women in the construction industry.
Nadia’s journey from unemployment to electrician’s apprentice demonstrates how the Workforce Development Division of Maricopa County Human Services Department can help people realize their dreams by charting a career path and providing the resources to turn a plan into action, opportunity and income.
For more information on the Workforce Development programs and services available through the Human Services Department of Maricopa County, visit Maricopa.gov/WDD.