A new study asserts that graduates of joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in construction can achieve nearly the same wages and benefits as college grads. Just as Congress is considering more than $1 trillion in added infrastructure investment that is expected to increase demand for skilled trade workers, a new national study released by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) has found that graduates of joint labor-management (union) apprenticeship programs in the construction industry achieve nearly equal wages and benefits, on average, as other workers with four-year college degrees. Registered apprenticeships enable participants to “earn while they learn” with no out of pocket expenses for the training provided. The study analyzed 10 years of data from the Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplement released by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Census Bureau. READ FULL ARTICLE>>
