President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order signaling the secretaries of Labor, Education and Commerce to submit a plan to “reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices.” The plan must identify:
Trump campaigned on the promise of adding apprentice programs within the United States. During his first administration, a program was created for companies and industry groups to develop apprenticeships, but that program was eliminated during the Biden-Harris administration, saying that the program was a duplicate to an existing one while offering fewer protections to workers, FacilitiesNet previously reported.
The call for apprenticeships comes as the younger generation has taken a keen interest in trades jobs. Nearly 80 percent of students are first exposed to trade work by the time they are 15 years old, according to a Dewalt study. Meanwhile, 27 percent of students aged 13 years or younger have already been exposed. While schools have played an essential role in introducing students to trades, many skilled-trade classes are limited, with 41 percent saying that they have access to programs within their skills. When classes are provided, it is commonly cited to be their favorite subject.
Still, many of Gen Zers that are interested in trade programs have faced several obstacles that prevent them from furthering their career development. Limited access to critical training is among the highest deterrents for young employees. According to the Dewalt study, 52 percent of students were placed on a waitlist for technical or vocational program enrollment.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the trades labor shortage will increase to nearly 500,000 in the next 10 years. The executive order aims to aid in this recovery by adding more registered apprenticeships. The Labor, Education and Commerce department has 120 days to submit a plan.
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
