Beyond the Hard Hat: Why Childcare & Retention Matter for Women in the Trades with IBEW 11’s Diana Limon

"It’s education’s best-kept secret." During Women in Construction Week, we’re going beyond the recruitment posters to talk about what it actually takes to build a career in the electrical industry. Joining the America’s Work Force Union Podcast is Diana Limon, Director of Women Recruitment and Support at IBEW Local 11 in Los Angeles. Diana didn’t follow a family pipeline into the trades—she found her way through a newspaper ad in 1995 after realizing college wasn't delivering the stability she needed. Now, she’s leading the charge to ensure the next generation of women doesn't just enter the trade, but stays there. In this episode, we discuss: The Retention Gap: Why recruitment is only half the battle and how childcare remains a structural barrier to women in construction. The ERiCA Grant: How California is finally putting real resources toward childcare support for apprentices. Apprenticeship Readiness: The role of MC3 and WINTER programs in preparing women for the physical and cultural realities of the jobsite. The Union Advantage: Why collective bargaining is the only way to guarantee equal pay, pensions, and a path to leadership. Listen in to hear how IBEW Local 11 is moving the needle on workforce capacity and true equity on the jobsite.