Apprenticeship Program Performance and Macroeconomic Fluctuations

A Case Study of Nevada's Construction Industry

Bibliographic Data

ID11229968
AuthorsJeffrey Waddoups (0000-0002-1199-9089, University of Nevada, Reno), Kevin Duncan (0000-0003-4261-9787, Colorado State University Pueblo, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume49
Issue2
Pages93-114
Publication date2024-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLabor Studies Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0160-449X • E-ISSN: 1538-9758
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0160449x231218979
OpenAlexW4389569897
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited7

Apprenticeship training in construction is an important source of human capital investment for workers, employers, and society. We address the extent to which macroeconomic fluctuations such as building booms and recessions affect apprenticeship completion rates—an important indicator of program performance. Using data from the U.S. Department of Labor, we find that one of the most important determinants of performance is a measure of macroeconomic activity during the apprenticeship period. Apprentices that register into a growing economy, as indicated by falling unemployment rates, are significantly more likely to complete their programs than those who register into a recessionary economy. We also find that apprentices in programs jointly sponsored by trade unions and signatory contractors have higher completion rates and are less affected by conditions in the macroeconomy

Apprenticeship · Boom · Business · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Educational attainment · Falling (accident · Investment (military · Labour economics · Macroeconomics · Political science · Recession · Unemployment · Education Systems and Policy · Engineering · Labor market dynamics and wage inequality · Labor Movements and Unions

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