WASHINGTON, DC — Nonunion apprenticeship programs and participants accounted for most of the growth in construction registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs) from 2020 through 2025, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of US Department of Labor data.

The data show that merit shop contractors and training providers have significantly expanded access to registered apprenticeships while the construction industry continues to face a shortage of skilled workers.

Nonunion Programs Drive Apprenticeship Growth

In 2025, 93% of the construction industry’s registered apprenticeship programs were nonunion. From 2020 to 2025, participation in nonunion RAPs increased 60%, compared with a 21% increase in union programs.

The number of nonunion RAPs grew 18% over the same period, while union-affiliated programs declined 1.5%. Nonunion program completers also increased 47%, compared with 19% growth among union programs.

In 2025, nonunion programs accounted for 31% of all construction RAP participants.

“The DOL data show that ABC and merit shop contractors are leading the industry in growing both registered apprenticeship programs and innovative new workforce development pipelines,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC Vice President of Government Affairs. “ABC supports the DOL building on its success by streamlining and simplifying apprenticeship regulations while providing incentives for better RAP performance, which will attract new sponsors and employers to the system. This is vital to providing access to these high-quality, earn-and-learn opportunities to more Americans and meeting the important goal of one million new active apprentices set forth by President Donald Trump.”

ABC estimates that construction industry federal and state RAPs included approximately 324,000 apprentice participants and produced 40,000 completers in fiscal year 2025. (Eight states did not report complete RAP data to the DOL, so ABC used rough estimates to account for missing information.)

Apprenticeships Address Persistent Labor Needs

The growth in registered apprenticeship programs comes as contractors continue to contend with a significant workforce gap. ABC estimates the construction industry will need 349,000 additional workers in 2026 to meet demand.

Registered apprenticeship is one component of a broader workforce strategy that also includes craft training, safety education, management development, competency-based progression and work-based learning.

“ABC champions registered apprenticeships as a key solution in construction workforce development,” said Swearingen. “ABC’s 67 chapters educate craft, safety and management professionals using innovative and flexible learning models like just-in-time task training, competency-based progression and work-based learning, in addition to more than 450 federal and state RAPs in more than 20 different occupations across America.”

Flexible Training Expands Contractor Workforce Options

ABC’s apprenticeship network provides contractors with multiple pathways for developing workers across construction occupations. The organization says its chapters and RAPs use flexible training models designed to connect classroom instruction with skills learned on the job.

The federal data indicate that nonunion providers have been expanding these opportunities at a faster rate than union-affiliated programs. That growth gives contractors another tool for developing skilled workers while allowing apprentices to earn wages and gain field experience during training.

For contractors facing persistent shortages, the continued expansion of registered apprenticeship programs provides a workforce-development option that can be combined with other recruiting, training and retention strategies.

To learn more visit www.abc.org.