FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONSTRUCTION CAREERS FOUNDATION AND STATE OF MINNESOTA CELEBRATE IMPORTANT ROLE OF CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIPS

Minneapolis-St. Paul — With the passage of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by Congress, Minnesota’s construction trades need more young people to join its ranks than ever to build Minnesota’s future.

To help Minnesota’s young people become more aware of registered apprenticeship opportunities throughout the state, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has declared Nov. 15 to 21, 2021, as Apprenticeship Week in Minnesota.

To help young people, parents and educators learn more about registered apprenticeships in Minnesota construction industry, the Construction Careers Foundation a Minneapolis-St. Paul nonprofit, launched a statewide effort called Construction Career Pathways and a website and mobile app that provides details on how to apply for an apprenticeship with a Minnesota building and construction trade union.

Apprenticeship Minnesota at the Minnesota Department of Labor recognizes ConstructionCareers.org as a leading, credible online resource to introduce middle and high school students to 30 different career options in the building trades. The Construction Careers Foundation partners with Minnesota’s construction trade unions, leading Minnesota-based construction companies and the State of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to build awareness about careers in construction among Minnesota’s young people.

“Construction Careers Foundation is proud to participate in and help spread awareness to Minnesota students about National Apprenticeship Week,” said Mary Stuart, Associate Director for the Construction Careers Foundation. “Making students, educators and parents aware of the benefits of apprenticeship creates opportunities for new conversations and considerations for youth planning their next steps after high school graduation.”

Minnesota Needs Gen Z Construction Workers

To help students better understand why they should consider a career in construction, ConstructionCareers.org and the Construction Trades mobile app offer stories and videos of real-life construction workers and apprentices who share why they chose a career in construction and explain the process they took to get into the building trades industry, beginning with a registered apprenticeship.

Minnesota Apprenticeship Week highlights the benefits of registered apprenticeship, a program of the United States Department of Labor that connects job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers. The goal of such instruction is to provide workers with advanced skill sets that meet the specific needs of employers across the construction industry, specifically in Minnesota. Interested students should not be discouraged if they lack experience in the industry, as these apprenticeships offer hands-on training where students earn while they learn and practice their skills.

Each year, more and more high school graduates are choosing a registered apprenticeship in the construction trades over college or service in the military. In 2019, Minnesota welcomed nearly 13,000 new apprentices, a record high number for the state.

The union construction industry recognizes the impact that strong apprentice training programs have on economic growth for the industry and the state alike, which is why they invest more than $30 million per year into training programs to ensure training of the highest caliber for their new apprentices.

To help young people connect with registered construction apprenticeships, the Construction Careers Foundation hired Sam Ebute, who serves as Statewide Trades Navigator. Ebute, who used to serve as director of the Minnesota Trades Academy, a summer internship program that gives high school students hands-on experience with construction practices, has helped many high school students connect with registered apprenticeship opportunities.

High School Students Can Start Careers in Construction Today

Students who are at least 18 years old and have earned their high school degree or GED can begin the application process for a building trades apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships offered by Minnesota’s trade unions are typically multi-year programs where the apprentice works with a journeyperson to learn a specific craft and skill set, according to Stuart. Once accepted, an apprentice immediately earns a paycheck while learning. In addition to incurring no college debt, building trade apprentices also obtain healthcare and dental insurance and are enrolled in a union pension plan.

“Visit Constructioncareers.org to explore careers in Minnesota’s construction industry and learn about the benefits of joining a union,” Stuart said. “We encourage Minnesota educators to share our resources with their students and parents to spread awareness about the benefits of a career in construction and help them on their apprenticeship journey.”

Start Connecting Now with a Registered Apprenticeship

For youth, educators, apprenticeship candidates and parents interested in building a career in construction connect with Sam Ebute at sam.ebute@constructioncareers.org.

 

Media inquiries:

Stephen Dupont

Pocket Hercules

stephen.dupont@pockethercules.com

612-435-8315