Apprenticeable jobs include those in the automotive and machine trades, the culinary arts, and the construction trades, including those of plumber and electrician. Although apprentice to journeyman ratios vary among and within states, about half the states require that one journeyman electrician or plumber supervise the first apprentice, and that three more journeymen must be employed before a second apprentice is hired. In the U.S. today about 40,000 program sponsors offer apprenticeship training to about 325,000 people, primarily in the construction industry and manufacturing. The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 authorized the U.S. Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the states, to oversee the nation's apprenticeship system. State Apprenticeship Councils register programs in 27 states.
BAT requires sponsors to protect apprentices' health and welfare and provide high quality training.
Tables 1 and 2 below indicate the most commonly applied ratios of journeymen and licensees to apprentices for electricians and plumbers, respectively. Three more journeymen must be employed for each additional apprentice. While the ratios in each table are accurate to the best of our knowledge, several factors may alter those numbers in particular situations. States also may grant waivers to program sponsors if a sponsor only has a single journeyman or licensee, or because of a shortage of skilled workers. In some states ratios vary by region or city.