Advancement in the construction industry traditionally was reserved for carpenters and other skilled workers, Swenke explained, and laborers were not considered skilled workers until the Construction-Craft program was developed. As workers receive more skills, it stands to reason that they will be more in demand. According to Swenke, workers who complete an approved apprenticeship program work 24 percent more in a given year than workers who haven t had the training. In our trades, when the job is done, you re laid off, he said. If the contractor doesn t have additional work, you re looking for a job.
Contractors reward the people that have taken the time to do the skills and safety training.
Roughly 100 occupations have apprenticeship training programs in Minnesota. All state programs are administered through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which notes that the federal government authorized the first Minnesota apprenticeship program after recognizing the need for states to have trained and skilled workers. Copyright 2001 Finance and Commerce. All rights reserved. A Dolan Media Publication.