A recent survey released by the Associated General Contractors of America reports that nearly 80% of respondents reported having trouble filling skilled trades positions. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal wrote that “The U.S. could run out of occupational therapists, railroad engineers, mathematicians, machinists and other workers, potentially leaving the economy in a long term slump.”
The federal Department of Education has recently enacted sanctions limiting for-profit universities and trade schools’ access to federal financial aid, prompting the closure of multiple of Missouri institutions. Without formal training or on the job work experience, many individuals who were interested in a career in the skilled trades are left without a pathway to enter the industry.
Reviving and bolstering apprenticeship programs across multiple industries could help Missouri workers find stable careers and alleviate the labor shortage for Missouri businesses. A 2012 study by Mathematica Policy Research held that individuals who completed a registered apprenticeship program earn over $240,000 more over their careers than individuals who did not complete an apprenticeship program.