A recent report indicates that while Wisconsin has seen a rise in construction apprenticeships over the last decade, the state could experience even greater growth with changes to its laws. Specifically, restoring the state’s prevailing wage law for government construction projects and repealing the "right-to-work" law could drive further expansion of the construction apprenticeship programs.

The report, produced by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) in collaboration with the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois, highlights the significant impact of state policies on workforce training.

“While increased public investment in the construction sector is having a positive impact on the apprenticeship system, it is clear that state policy interventions that erode workforce institutions that prioritize training have had the opposite effect,” said Professor Robert Bruno, director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal, in a statement.

The findings reveal that unionized construction companies, despite accounting for only 22% of the market in Wisconsin, operate 77% of apprenticeship programs. These joint employer-union programs account for 96% of apprenticeship spending in the state.

MEPI economist Frank Manzo IV emphasized the role unions play in the apprenticeship sector, stating, “The unionized segment of the construction industry punches above its weight by a great deal.”

Wisconsin also offers employer-only construction apprenticeship programs, but these are limited. The report highlights that in 2022, employer-only programs enrolled only 23% of apprentices, with just $2.9 million spent on these programs compared to $64.3 million on joint union-management programs.

Kent Miller, president of the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, remarked, “I’ve heard many times from members how an apprenticeship helped them get their first home. As much as we can invest in Wisconsin workers, it pays dividends down the road.”

The study points to a growing need for skilled labor, particularly in modernizing infrastructure and energy systems across the Midwest. Despite a nearly 50% increase in apprenticeship enrollment from 2016 to 2024, the report notes that Wisconsin’s growth in this area lags behind neighboring states that maintain policies supporting workforce training and workers' rights.

The report also links the state’s apprenticeship slowdown to the repeal of its prevailing wage law in 2017 and the introduction of the right-to-work law in 2015.

“The construction industry is facing high demand for qualified tradespeople to modernize infrastructure, energy systems, and domestic manufacturing facilities, and that’s really happening across the Midwest,” said Manzo.

The report compares Wisconsin’s apprenticeship numbers to neighboring states like Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, where apprenticeship enrollments have increased by more than 63% from 2016 to 2024. Notably, these states retained their prevailing wage laws during that period.

“Prevailing wage laws ensure that all firms — regardless of union status, by the way — would commit to these cents-per-hour contributions into registered apprenticeship programs while performing work on public works projects,” Manzo explained.

With increased demand for skilled workers in the construction industry, restoring the prevailing wage law and repealing the right-to-work law could boost Wisconsin’s apprenticeship system, as suggested by MEPI research analyst Jacob Heger. “They can go into these apprenticeship programs, they can get the quality training that they need and then they know that in public policy they’re backed up by what’s on the books [in state law],” Heger said.

As the state considers its budget proposals, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has called for restoring the prevailing wage law and ending the right-to-work law. However, these provisions were removed during budget deliberations by the Republican-controlled Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.

The report suggests that restoring these laws would provide the support necessary for skilled trades workers and help improve apprenticeship programs in Wisconsin.

Originally reported by Erik Gunn in Wisconsin Examiner.