Nearly 70% of tradeswomen with children under 18 have left or considered leaving their careers due to difficulties finding reliable child care, according to Utah State University. Difficulties finding reliable child care create a revolving door for talented women in the trades. While the skilled trades attract diverse talent, a majority of new apprentices do not complete their programs, threatening to negate initial diversity gains. Without significant investment in retention strategies and comprehensive support, especially for working parents, current diversity gains are unsustainable, exacerbating labor shortages. Recruiting diverse talent is only the first step; retaining it requires dismantling fundamental barriers.
Increasing Diversity in Skilled Trades
The construction industry has seen a notable increase in women entering the trades, a trend partly fueled by the pandemic and ongoing labor shortages, according to ConstructConnect. The notable increase in women entering the trades offers a critical opportunity to diversify the workforce, but it demands effective integration and support systems to ensure new entrants build lasting careers.
Joint Programs Lead the Way in Diversity Recruitment
Joint labor-management apprenticeship programs, sponsored by unions and contractors, are a key driver for initial diversity. NABTU data confirms these programs register more female, Black, Hispanic, and “other race” workers, and these groups account for a greater proportion of all joint apprentices compared to non-joint programs. Joint labor-management apprenticeship programs effectively attract diverse talent, yet recruitment success does not guarantee program completion.
The Hidden Crisis: High Attrition Rates
More than half of all apprentices leave their training programs before completion, regardless of race, gender, or program type, according to NABTU data. The high attrition rate of more than half of all apprentices reveals a systemic flaw in apprenticeship models: entry does not guarantee a successful career path. The industry's skilled worker pipeline is leaking significantly, undermining recruitment efforts.
