Expanding Apprenticeships in America Part 1

There has been a lot of construction-related news recently with a proposed trillion dollar infrastructure bill in Washington and enforced tariffs on steel and aluminum. One consistent question being asked is will the United States be able to meet the labor demand to take on these massive domestic projects? As we have covered in past articles, there is a significant labor shortage in the construction industry. In fact, over half of the construction companies in America are having difficulty employing skilled workers.

In this four-part article, we will discuss President Donald Trump’s executive order that is designed to create one million apprenticeship positions within the next two years. In sections two, three, and four, we will discuss the details of this executive order and how it may impact the future of the construction industry. Remember, if you are in need of a Nashville construction litigation attorney, please speak with us today.

The Need for Construction Labor

There are over 14 million workers that work within the construction sector. This is over 10 percent of the entire American workforce. In the next ten years, approximately 20 percent of these workers will retire and need to be replaced. Finding this next generation of workers will be a challenge considering most millennials prefer to attend a four-year university over a trade school.

Washington’s Proposal to Expand Apprenticeships

On June 15, 2017, President Donald Trump established an executive order designed to expand apprenticeships in America. As the executive order states, the policy was created to “provide more affordable pathways to secure, high paying jobs by promoting apprenticeship and effective workforce development programs.” Along with a goal of creating one million apprenticeships in the next two years, the executive order is designed to minimize or eliminate “taxpayer support for ineffective workforce development programs.”

The Purpose of the Plan

With higher education prices dramatically increasing and with many federal workforce development programs not effectively producing results, this executive order was created to promote a cost-effective educational option for many young workers that desire a lucrative career in a skills-related job. Ideally, this executive order would help reduce the number of young men and women that are in mounting debt due to student loans and also provide these young workers with “relevant workplace experiences and opportunities to develop skills that employers value.”

If you would like to speak with one of our Nashville construction litigation attorneys, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.