Construction Careers Foundation Celebrates Apprenticeship Week in Minnesota
NEWS RELEASE
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – This November 11th to November 15th the State of Minnesota, Minnesota’s Building and Construction Trades, construction companies, and trade schools celebrate the power of construction trades apprenticeships to transform the lives of Minnesota’s young people.
Among the supporters of Apprenticeship Week in Minnesota is the Construction Careers Foundation, which leads the Construction Career Pathways (CCP), a state-wide initiative designed to build awareness about the construction trades among middle school and high school students.
Many high school students feel pressured to go to a four-year college or university after high school, or to enter the military.
But there’s a third option: a highly satisfying, good-paying career in the building and construction trades, which begins with a registered apprenticeship.
“Through our website, ConstructionCareers.org, and face-to-face events,” said Sarah Lechowich, senior director of the Construction Careers Foundation, “our goal is to attract the next generation of skilled building professionals to consider an apprenticeship program with one of Minnesota’s construction and building trades unions.”
Minnesota Needs Gen Z Construction Workers
It takes dedicated professionals to build and maintain Minnesota’s roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings. The skills and knowledge of those in the trades keep businesses, homes and Minnesota running.
To help students better understand why they should consider a career in construction, ConstructionCareers.org offers stories and videos of real-life construction workers who share why they chose a career in construction and the process they took to get into apprenticeship.
“We want all students to learn about careers in the building trades from everyday folks,” Lechowich said. “We want them to see that if you have an interest in working with your hands, you are wanted in Minnesota’s construction and building trades.”
The State of Minnesota supports, recognizes the work of Construction Career Pathways
Minnesota Apprenticeship Week highlights the benefits of registered apprenticeship. The goal of apprenticeship is to provide workers with advanced skill-sets that meet the specific needs of employers across the construction industry. Apprenticeships offer hands-on training where students earn while they learn and practice their skills before starting lifelong career in the construction industry.
On the Construction Career Pathways’ landing page students can explore construction careers, apprenticeship opportunities, and real stories of Minnesota tradespeople. The Construction Careers Pathway (CCP) Alliance is a collaborative effort to provide year-round construction career exploration opportunities for Minnesota youth.
ConstructionCareers.org is recognized by Apprenticeship Minnesota at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry as the gateway to introduce middle and high school students to more than 30 different career options in the building trades.
“A lot of Minnesota students feel pressured by their parents, teachers and peers to enter a four-year college or university after high school,” said Lechowich. “We want folks to understand that it’s not necessary to take on an immense amount of student debt to land in a rewarding career. That’s where we come in – to introduce the idea that you can be successful and make good money working with your hands and mind as an electrician, ironworker, or any of the other 30 plus career tracks in the construction and building trades.”
High School Students Can Start Exploring Careers in Construction Today
Students who are at least 18 years old and have earned their high school diploma or GED can begin the application process for a building trades apprenticeship through ConstructionCareers.org.
Registered apprenticeship programs offered by Minnesota’s Building and Construction Trade unions and their employer partners are typically multi-year programs where the apprentice works with skilled journeyworkers to receive hands-on training and is accompanied by classroom training to ensure quality. Once accepted into an apprenticeship program, an apprentice immediately earns a paycheck, an earn while you learn model. In addition to incurring no college debt, construction and building trade apprentices also obtain healthcare, vacation, and pension benefits.
To learn more about careers in construction, visit ConstructionCareers.org.
Media inquiries:
Stephen Dupont
Pocket Hercules
612-435-8315
stephen.dupont@pockethercules.com