There is no conflict of interest.
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the relationship between local unemployment rates, the Great Recession, and attrition rates among apprentices in construction occupations, across three different program types.
- The study used data from the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS) on apprentice characteristics and program status. The author used a statistical model to assess the relationship between local unemployment rates and attrition rates of apprentices across three different types of programs during the Great Recession.
- The study found a significant relationship between rising unemployment rates during the Great Recession and higher cancellation rates among apprentices in unilateral multiple-employer programs. This means that as unemployment went up, these apprentices left the programs at a faster rate or stayed for a shorter time.
- The author imputed data on unemployment rates as the RAPIDS dataset reports data at the core-based statistical area (CBSA) level while unemployment rates for the construction sector are typically calculated at the state level.
Intervention Examined
Features of the Intervention
Registered Apprenticeship programs involve on-the-job training and classroom instruction to help individuals acquire the skills, experience, and knowledge needed to pursue their desired occupation. These programs are also paid, offering progressive wage increases as apprentices progress through the program, and result in a nationally recognized credential upon completion of the program. Registered Apprenticeship programs are administered and offered by various organizations and institutions across the United States to serve individuals seeking an alternative career pathway from the typical college experience. The present study focused on construction apprenticeship programs across the country which have on-the-job requirements of 6,000 to 12,000 hours, with programs typically taking three to six years to complete. The study also looked at three different types of apprenticeship programs: joint programs (i.e., organized by a trade union and contractors), unilateral multiple-employer programs (i.e., coordinated by several contractors and managed by a contractor association), and unilateral single-employer programs (i.e., smaller programs managed by a single employer).
Features of the Study
The study analyzed a national dataset of apprentices in the construction industry to examine the relationship between local unemployment rates and attrition rates of apprentices during the Great Recession (the years 2008-2010). The author used data from the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS) dataset. This dataset provides details about apprenticeships, such as apprentice characteristics and program status, for 30 states that share program data with the U.S. Department of Labor. The study sample included 144,084 apprentices from across the country who pursued one of four construction occupations: carpenters, electricians, plumbers/pipefitters, and sheet metal workers. The study focused on apprentices who began their apprenticeship program between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2010, and reported their program status by November 30, 2014. The author used a statistical model to evaluate how unemployment during the Great Recession affected the cancellation and completion rates of apprentices in the construction industry.
Findings
- The study found a difference in attrition by type of apprenticeship program as unemployment during the Great Recession increased. Among apprentices in unilateral multiple-employer programs, the study found a significant positive relationship between unemployment during the Great Recession and attrition rates, meaning that these apprentices quit the programs at faster rates or spent less time in the programs.
- The study found no significant relationships between unemployment during the Great Recession and attrition rates among apprentices in joint programs or unilateral single-employer programs.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The author notes that the RAPIDS data for the unemployment rates measured the rates at the core-based statistical area (CBSA) level while unemployment rates for the construction sector are typically calculated at the state level from the Community Population Survey (CPS). To resolve this, the author imputed CBSA-level rates based on the relationship between state-level and aggregate unemployment rates.
Research Guidelines
Review Protocol: Employment and Training Review Protocol
Review Guidelines: Quantitative Descriptive Guidelines