Employers in the skilled trades sector face complex workforce challenges in increasingly competitive domestic and global markets. Registered Apprenticeship is employers’ Employers in the construction sector face complex workforce challenges in increasingly competitive domestic and global markets. Registered Apprenticeship is employers’ proven solution for recruiting, training, and retaining world-class construction talent in good, quality jobs. In 2021, there were over 197,421 registered apprentices in the construction occupations, increasing over 72% in the last eight years.
"Construction Registered Apprenticeship is the gold standard in job training. These quality programs not only get employers the high-skilled labor they need; Registered Apprenticeship also gives people employable and deployable skills to feed their family and maintain their place or achieve their place in the middle class. These programs ensure the quality of construction and the safety and security of the construction workforce, strengthening every community across the country where these workers reside and are needed. These programs help recruit, train and retain workers through progressive wage increases; apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios that promote safety; quality assurance assessments by the government; uniform standards; mandatory safety training; instructor eligibility requirements; and transparency requirements. It’s the most proven career pipeline for tomorrow’s more diverse and equitable workforce."
Sean McGarvey, NABTU President
High-Demand Apprenticeship Occupations
To explore more apprenticeship occupations in the Construction and skilled trade industry, view our Occupation Finder.
Construction Industry Resources
- Construction Fact Sheet
- Construction Apprenticeship: The "Other Four Year Degree"
- Helmets to Hardhats
- National Center for Construction Education and Research – Curricula and Assessment
- Construction Industry Competency Models
- NABTU Diversity Toolkit: Your Guide to Best Practices for Recruiting a More Diverse Membership
For more resources, program examples, and marketing materials, go to the Construction Community of Practice page.