Steel Markets

Construction Industry Slighted by Trump Apprenticeship Proposal

June 28, 2019

Construction is among the industries suffering the most from a shortage of skilled labor, yet the Trump administration excluded construction from its proposal to expand apprenticeship programs, angering the Associated General Contractors of America.

“At a time when the vast majority of construction firms report having a hard time finding qualified workers to hire, it is deeply troubling that the Trump administration has opted not to include the sector in its new apprenticeship proposal. Instead of opening new routes for many thousands of Americans to embark on high-paying construction careers, the administration has instead opted to exclude one of the largest single sectors of the economy from what is supposed to be their signature workforce initiative,” said AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr.

In a statement responding to the Department of Labor’s release on the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Sandherr said: “While there are multiple paths into the industry, the fact is that it remains too difficult for many firms and their partners to establish apprenticeship programs for construction workers. Barriers for apprenticeship programs often include the excessive costs incurred during the rigid and inflexible registration process. Had construction been included in this initiative, many more Americans would have had the option to master construction crafts via the proven apprenticeship model. Instead the administration is sending a clear message that contractors need not apply.

“It is troubling that the administration says that the construction industry would not ‘initially’ be eligible for consideration without providing any compelling rationale as to why the industry has been excluded,” Sandherr added. “Furthermore, there is no enumeration of the factors that would be considered to permit construction training programs to be included in the apprenticeship expansion program in the future.”