Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week with CCF
Please join the Construction Careers Foundation in celebrating the 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), November 14-20, 2022.
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship in rebuilding the economy, advancing racial and gender equity, and supporting underserved communities.
Throughout National Apprenticeship Week, the Construction Careers Foundation, a Minneapolis-St. Paul nonprofit will share numerous stories of real-life construction professionals who have built their careers with their own two hands through local union apprenticeships. Read and share our Success Stories here.
The Apprenticeship Pathway
“Apprenticeship is a form of education where people get paid to learn construction trades skills,” said Associate Director for the Construction Careers Foundation Mary Stuart. “Most apprenticeship programs run between three and five years and are often more cost-effective than a traditional university-style learning.”
Another benefit to apprenticeships is the learning style uses a hands-on approach. Based on the nature of the work, the construction apprentices model spends part of their time in the classroom and the other half of the time in the field applying their knowledge on worksites across Minnesota.
“Once a person completes their apprenticeship they may take a licensure test or skills test to be certified as a journey worker,” Stuart added. “But throughout the apprenticeship process, apprentices get paid and receive benefits from their union such as healthcare and a pension.”
Discover if an apprenticeship is the right choice for you. View our apprenticeship pathway to the trades chart.
Build your Career with an Apprenticeship
More than 30 building and construction trade unions are located in Minnesota and many offer apprenticeship programs.
“Discovering which trade is right for you is a lot like picking out high school elective classes,” Stuart said. “Invest time in researching the trades, learn what conditions they work in, what skills they need to do the job right, and take note of what kinds of job sites they work on.”
ConstructionCareers.org offers information on various construction trades, such as pipefitting, plumbing, ironworking, carpentry, and much more. Find more information on the Careers page.
Educators Invited to Take Part in National Apprenticeship Week
“National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for educators to highlight how Registered Apprenticeship, a proven and industry-driven training model, provides a pipeline for long-term careers,” Stuart said. “Construction apprenticeships are not just an important career pathway for apprentices but also address greater workforce challenges, help rebuild our country’s infrastructure and clean energy and alleviate continued supply chain demands.”
After checking out ConstructionCareers.org, consider registering for one of the Minnesota Department of Labor’s #NAW2022 events. Click here for the weeklong event listings.