On August 26, 黑料不打烊 of America submitted on the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 proposed rule to establish a new system for government approval of apprenticeship programs that would operate in parallel with the existing registered apprenticeship system. The new system would provide for recognition of 鈥淚ndustry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs鈥 through an expedited and streamlined process. The proposed rule states that the construction industry would not 鈥渋nitially鈥 be eligible to participate in the new system.
黑料不打烊鈥檚 comments ask the Department to include thoughtful solutions for all industries, including construction. Given the industry鈥檚 significant and widespread labor shortage, it should not be left out. 黑料不打烊 believes that expanding opportunity and access to all training opportunities is an important part of a multifaceted approach to addressing the crisis, and that the Department should promote education and apprenticeship program innovation from all sectors of the industry on an even playing field. While joint labor-management apprenticeship programs are the gold standard for training workers in the industry, high-quality unilateral programs should be eligible for government approval and funding on a fair and impartial basis.
The Department received over 300,000 comments on the rule and is not expected to issue a final rule for several months. This week, 黑料不打烊 released the report of its 2019 workforce survey in which 80% of contractors reported having a hard time filling open positions. Therefore, 黑料不打烊 will continue to look for public policy changes and other solutions to address labor supply and training.
Contact Jim Young for more information.
Contractor Type
Industry Priorities