With a wave of retirements looming over the construction industry, Wisconsin’s union construction sector is actively working to recruit and train the next generation of tradespeople.

The average construction worker in the U.S. is now over 40 years old, and industry and federal reports cite hundreds of thousands of open construction positions across the country. In Wisconsin, that labor shortage is amplified by the growing demand for skilled trades driven by manufacturing and data center projects, especially in the state’s southeast region. Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters are in particularly high demand.

One of the key strategies to address this workforce gap is apprenticeships — a model that blends hands-on job experience with formal education.

National Apprenticeship Week, which runs this year from April 26 to May 2, is hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor to spotlight the value of apprenticeships across industries. After feedback from stakeholders, the event was moved to spring, with National Apprenticeship Day marked for April 30.

In Wisconsin, events kicked off with a formal proclamation from Gov. Tony Evers, a virtual gathering hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and a workforce development webinar in partnership with Gateway Technical College.

One of the headline events was Milwaukee’s Building Advantage 2025 Construction Career Fair, held Wednesday at American Family Field. Hundreds of high school students attended, shaking hands with representatives from construction companies and trade unions eager to spread the word about opportunities in construction.

The career fair coincided with an announcement from the governor’s office that 11,344 youth apprentices were enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year — a 14% increase from the previous year and a record high for the fourth consecutive year.

High school juniors and seniors in Wisconsin can enroll in youth apprenticeships for one or two years, earning wages while receiving classroom instruction in their chosen field. According to state officials, Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to offer youth apprenticeships when it launched the program in 1991. Youth apprenticeships often serve as a pathway to future registered apprenticeships with contractors, providing a seamless transition into full-time trades careers.

Speaking at the career fair, Gov. Tony Evers emphasized how critical apprenticeships are to the state’s infrastructure and economic vitality. “The footprint of the state would look a lot different without (union construction),” Evers remarked, standing before a crowd of students gathered near home plate.

He was joined by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, José Martin of Ironworkers Local 8, and Chris Mambu Rasch, executive director of Building Advantage.

Mayor Johnson highlighted the trades as a strong option for family-supporting careers, particularly for those who opt not to pursue a college degree. He tied the availability of skilled tradespeople to his broader vision of growing Milwaukee’s population from around 600,000 to 1 million. “The trades were making city growth possible by expanding the city’s physical footprint,” Johnson said.

Martin, who has been with the Ironworkers for 18 years, shared a personal story about how he was recruited into the trade shortly after graduating from South Division High School, thanks to a conversation with his cousin. “Events like these help with spreading the word and getting the (industry voice out)… it’s one way to build the workforce,” Martin said. He noted that the career fair has become an annual tradition and that he’s seen students return from past fairs to ask more questions and connect directly with contractors and tradespeople.

With many in the current workforce preparing to retire soon, Martin stressed the urgency of acting now. “Since much of the workforce was retiring soon, it was best to work to fill the void now than later,” he said.

Beyond just filling jobs, apprenticeship programs are seen as a long-term investment in the sustainability of Wisconsin’s economy and community infrastructure. Organizers say that by introducing young people early to the opportunities in the trades, they can inspire a new generation of workers ready to take on the challenges of building and maintaining the state’s future.

Originally reported by Ethan Duran in The Daily Reporter.