Construction apprenticeship participation continues to grow as contractors search for ways to expand the skilled workforce. Associated Builders and Contractors reported August 19 that participation in nonunion registered apprenticeship programs increased 60% from 2020 to 2025.
What the Numbers Show
ABC’s analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data found that 93% of construction registered apprenticeship programs in 2025 were operated by nonunion providers. The number of nonunion programs grew 18% from 2020 to 2025, while union-affiliated programs declined 1.5% by ABC’s count.
Why the Market Is Moving
Completion growth also improved. ABC reported that completers from nonunion programs increased 47% over the five-year period, compared with 19% growth in union programs. Union and nonunion apprenticeship systems both remain important sources of trained craft workers across the industry.
What It Means for Contractors
ABC estimates that federal and state registered apprenticeship programs had about 324,000 construction participants in fiscal 2025 and produced about 40,000 completers. The organization notes that eight states did not report complete data, so its totals include estimates for missing information.
What It Means for Workers
The numbers show progress, but they also show the size of the challenge. ABC estimates the industry needs to attract 349,000 net new workers in 2026. A four- or five-year apprenticeship system cannot close that gap instantly, even when enrollment rises sharply.
The Bigger Employment Picture
For electrical contractors, apprenticeship is especially important because electrical work requires a long development path. New hires can contribute early, but it takes years to develop the knowledge and field judgment of a qualified journeyman, foreman or superintendent.
What to Watch Next
The growth in apprenticeship is good news for the industry. The harder question is whether enrollment, completion and retention can expand fast enough to match the pace of data centers, utilities, manufacturing and other labor-intensive construction.
Why This Matters Now
Construction employment data can change quickly, so the best view comes from several measures at once. Payroll growth shows whether companies are adding people. Job openings show how many positions employers are still trying to fill. Unemployment shows how many experienced workers may be immediately available. Wage growth shows how hard employers are competing for labor. When several of those measures point in the same direction, the trend is more meaningful than a single monthly number.
The Pipeline Takes Years to Mature
Apprenticeship is powerful because workers earn while they learn, but it is not an instant response to a labor shortage. Many construction apprenticeships last four or five years. Enrollment growth today strengthens the workforce several years from now. Contractors still need experienced journeymen and supervisors to train those apprentices safely while current projects are being built.
Completion Matters as Much as Enrollment
A large entering class only helps the industry if apprentices stay in the trade and complete the program. Work availability, mentoring, classroom progress and employer support all affect retention. Contractors that treat apprentices as a long-term investment rather than inexpensive short-term labor are more likely to develop the skilled workers they will need later.
Reading the Trend Carefully
Monthly employment reports are estimates and are revised as more information becomes available. They are most useful for identifying direction and scale rather than predicting the exact number of people a contractor can hire in one city. Project starts, completions and seasonal patterns can move the numbers from month to month. For that reason, contractors should combine public data with current bid activity, backlog and their own recruiting results before changing a workforce plan.
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors. This is an original iBidElectric news summary based on current publicly available employment reporting.
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