Apprenticeship

Registered Apprenticeship in the Construction Trades

The Building Trades have embraced apprenticeship for hundreds of years. There are currently over 10,000 women and men participating in a Building Trades apprenticeship in Minnesota.

• The construction industry is a critical industry prepared to operate safely during COVID-19.
• Registered Apprenticeship is the primary training pipeline for people entering the construction industry.
• In 2019, Minnesota had a record high number of registered apprentices (nearly 13,000) and a record high number of apprenticeship completions (1,800).
• Minnesota has over 11,000 registered apprentices, over 10,000 are in union construction apprenticeship programs.
• The union construction industry has 54 privately funded Registered Apprenticeship Programs around the State. Many of these programs are converting to virtual training when possible to ensure that training can continue during COVID -19.
• The union construction industry invests over $30 million per year in privately funded construction training programs.
• There are waiting lists to enter many union construction registered apprenticeship programs demonstrating that workers are available and want to join the high skilled, high growth, fair wage segment of the construction industry. For example, in 2019, four registered apprenticeship programs had a combined total of over 1,500 applicants for 240 positions.
• The construction workforce is expected to grow 11.8% from 2018-2028.
• Approximately 13% of the total construction workforce is women compared to 4% in 2010.
• Approximately 754 (6.92%) of union construction apprentices are women. In 2010, there were 300 female apprentices.*
• Approximately 5% of the total construction workforce are people of color. Currently, 20.5% (2,237) of the union construction apprentices are people of color.*
• 92% of all African American apprentices are in union construction programs, 95% of all Latino and Latina apprentices and 98% of all other minorities apprentices are in union construction apprenticeship programs.
• Apprenticeship completion rates for minority apprentices is up 339% from 2012 to 2019.

*Figures are from 3/1/21

About Registered Apprenticeship

• Registered apprenticeship is a formal system of employee training that combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction.
• Registered apprenticeship programs train and develop craftworkers over 2 – 5 years who are fully competent in all aspects of an occupation including knowledge, skills, and safety on the job.
• Registered Apprenticeship programs include a written contract between the apprentice and the employer or apprenticeship program sponsor, approved by and registered with the State of Minnesota. This agreement specifies the total length of training, number of school hours (related technical instruction) and an outline of the skills of the trade to be learned and the wages the apprentice will receive.

Learn More

• Study: Union Construction Apprenticeships Rivals Bachelor’s Degree
• Apprenticeship Minnesota: June 2021 Apprenticeship snap shot
• Study: Impact of Construction Apprenticeship Programs in Minnesota – A Return on Investment Analysis. September 2019
• Newsletter: Construction Workforce Capacity Update, March 2021
• Apprenticeship Minnesota: Be an Apprentice
• Construction Careers Pathways: Start Your Career Today
• Video Resources

Building Trades Strategic Partnerships for Construction Careers

• Learn more about our Construction Careers Partners:
  • Construction Careers Foundation
  • Construct Tomorrow
  • Helmets to Hardhats
  • Building Strong Communities

Building Trades Registered Apprenticeship Programs