MADISON, WI – As the number of enrolled apprentices continue to rise across Wisconsin, union-led programs remain the gold standard in preparing Wisconsin’s next generation of skilled workers and delivering the workforce backbone that the state’s economy demands.
Union apprenticeship programs trained approximately 77% of all Wisconsin construction apprentices, a testament to the trusted partnerships between labor and management that have built and maintained the state’s infrastructure for generations.
“Our joint labor-management programs aren’t just participating in workforce development – we’re carrying it,” said Emily Pritzkow, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council. “When Wisconsin workers choose union apprenticeships, they’re choosing high-quality education, strong wages, and long-term stability in the skilled trades. Critically, they’re doing it without taking on college debt.”
The Real Scale of Wisconsin’s Apprenticeship Success
Wisconsin’s construction apprenticeship system trains over 11,000 active apprentices statewide, with union programs shouldering the vast majority of this responsibility. Union programs train 77% of all construction apprentices – over 8,500 apprentices delivering the skilled workforce the entire industry depends upon.
Quality Training Requires Quality Investment
A recent study by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) reveals the extraordinary impact and efficiency of joint labor-management training programs. The data shows why union apprenticeship programs consistently deliver superior results compared to non-union programs:
- Union programs invest six times more per apprentice, or $7,500 annually per apprentice in union programs vs. $1,200 annually for non-union
- 96% of all apprenticeship training investments statewide ($64.3 million annually) come from union programs
- Union graduates earn $41 per hour compared to $27 per hour for non-union graduates
- Union construction workers earn 24% more than Wisconsin workers with bachelor’s degrees and 5% more than those with master’s degrees
- Union apprenticeship completion rates rival the University of Wisconsin System’s five-year graduation rate
“Sustainable apprenticeship programs require more than recruitment – they require retention and completion. You can’t deliver world-class training on a discount budget,” noted Pritzkow. “Our funding model through collectively bargained ‘cents per hour’ contributions ensures a debt-free, comprehensive training that actually prepares workers for lifelong careers.”
The Generational Success Formula
While younger workers increasingly recognize construction’s career potential, the most successful programs combine recruitment with proven completion strategies. Union programs excel at retaining apprentices through comprehensive support, mentorship, and clear pathways to career advancement.
“Getting young people interested in the trades is important, but getting them successfully through comprehensive training programs that prepare them for lifelong careers is what actually matters,” said Pritzkow. “If I were an 18-year-old choosing between programs, I’d want to know that union apprentices have a 9 percentage point higher completion rate and earn 41% more when they graduate. Our model has proven it works across generations.”
Wisconsin’s Workforce Investment Champions
At a time when 88% of construction firms report difficulty filling skilled positions, Wisconsin’s construction industry depends on programs that deliver both quantity and quality. While some non-union organizations claim to operate “the largest apprenticeship program in the state” by combining multiple separate programs under one umbrella, the data shows that joint labor-management programs are Wisconsin’s true workforce development champions:
- Training more than three times as many apprentices as the largest non-union program (8,498 vs. 2,600)
- Investing the overwhelming share of training resources (96% of all investment)
- Achieving higher completion rates that rival university graduation rates
- Delivering superior wage outcomes that create genuine economic mobility
“In a time when workforce shortages are impacting nearly every sector, Wisconsin already has the solution: invest in proven, union-led apprenticeship systems that lift people into the middle class,” said Pritzkow.
The Wisconsin Building Trades Council represents 15 member craft organizations and acts as the unifying voice for over 40,000 voices of working men and women across Wisconsin, providing the skilled workforce that builds the state’s infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and communities.
The full MEPI study is available here: https://midwestepi.org/2025/05/09/study-construction-apprenticeships-are-growing-in-wisconsin-but-lag-neighboring-states-with-prevailing-wage-laws/
For more information on the Wisconsin Building Trades Council or to speak with a union-trained apprentice or journeyworker, please contact Michael Horecki at michael@wisconsinbuildingtrades.org.
