Registered Apprentice Programs Can’t Keep Up With Demand for New Labor

December 17, 2024

The U.S. has invested heavily in registered apprenticeships in a range of industries and as a primary method of growing the construction workforce. But the number of workers those programs produce are far from what the industry needs, according to a new report.

In 2024, the federal government poured $244 million into expanding apprenticeship opportunities in growing industries such as construction, making it the largest federal investment in them to date, according to the report released by Rand Corp. last month. Despite the historic level of funding, Rand found that RAPs won’t help provide as much relief in the tight labor market as construction needs.

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