The number of apprentices in the construction industry is rising, but apprenticeships and jobs are still hard to fill, even with a labor shortage.
Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, whose members come from both union and nonunion companies, reported in 2022 that 91% had open positions they couldn’t fill. Why? One reason is that older workers are retiring. Also, demand for the kinds of skills workers in the construction industry possess is increasing compared to other industries. And most telling: 77% of AGC respondents said job candidates aren’t qualified. They either lack job skills – or they can’t pass a drug test.
