Break into the Building Trades Unions by Becoming a Laborer
Break into the Building Trades Unions by Becoming a Laborer
Posted on 7/18/2022
Construction Jobs Pay, but Getting into Union Apprenticeships Can Be Difficult
As college becomes more expensive, many young people are looking for other pathways that lead to good first jobs. NextGen Talent’s “Where are the Well-Paying Jobs in Boston?” tool shows how construction is one of the top industries in Greater Boston offering high-paying job opportunities to people with less than a bachelor’s degree. But getting into a union apprenticeship program in the building trades (e.g., electrical, carpentry, plumbing) can be challenging. Some programs have acceptance rates that rival Ivy League colleges. And if you don’t have a family member or other connection in the industry, the application process can be intimidating.
Become a Laborer . . . and Consider Using the Experience as a Stepping-Stone to Other Trade Unions
If you aren’t ready to apply or haven’t yet been able to get into some of the more competitive union apprenticeship programs, LIUNA’s Construction Craft Laborers program is a good plan B. It not only gives you paid, relevant work experience, but also gives you standing as a union member if you decide to apply later to a different apprenticeship. You can stay working as a laborer or think of it as a stepping-stone to some of the higher-paying building trades apprenticeships. For example, the skills you’ll gain as a Laborer can help you gain entrance into a Carpenters Apprenticeship program.
LIUNA’s Construction Craft Laborers Apprenticeship Program is 2-3 years long. It trains you to become a laborer who helps to build our city from the ground up. Laborers perform tasks at construction sites such as cleaning and preparing sites; digging trenches; setting braces to support the sides of excavations; erecting scaffolding; and cleaning up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. As you can imagine, this work is very physical. It includes digging, carrying, pulling, and bending, often outside in all kinds of weather for long hours at a time. While LIUNA’s website does not state how much you should be able to physically lift as a laborer, laborer jobs often require that you be able to lift at least 25-50 pounds.
Consider LIUNA’s Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship Program
Regardless of experience, as an apprentice, you immediately begin to earn a wage while learning on the job and in the classroom. Your rate of pay increases with your skills, knowledge, and experience. Zone 1 apprentices get an excellent starting wage: $25.30/hour (60% of the journeyworker's wage as of 6/1/22). Most of the skills training for laborer apprentices is conducted in Hopkinton, MA, however the program offers free housing (dorms) for laborer apprentices during their training. To learn more about this apprenticeship program, log into your Navigator account and click LIUNA Training's Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship.