PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2022

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

While the average age of an apprentice may be in the mid-20s, Dillon is seeing individuals in their 30s and 40s enter the skilled trades workforce. “Even when I got into the plumber apprenticeship, half of my class had four-year degrees,” he said. “They had white collar jobs and decided that sitting behind a desk wasn’t for them and wanted to transition to something else.” More women also are entering the skilled trades industry. SharonWilliams, editor and business manager of the Labor Paper, leads Union Sisters, a group of more than 120 local women who serve as resources for support and recruitment as well as perform volunteer service in the community. The “sisters” attend recruiting events and visit schools to meet with young women who might be interested in a skilled trades career. “Since our organization started, we’ve had about 20 women join our groupwho are currently apprentices,” said Williams. “That’s a great number andwe feel we aremaking that difference inwomen pursuing these careers. We have almost every trade represented, which just a few years ago may not have been the case.” EARN WHILE YOU LEARN Perhaps the biggest benefit to a career in the skilled trades is “earn while you learn.” About 20 percent of the program is classroom instruction, and the other 80 percent takes place out on the job, said Robert Swengle, training coordinator at Mid-Central IL Regional Council of Carpenters JATC. “Apprentices earn a percentage of scale wages while they’re training on the job,” he explained. “Over the three to five years of their program, they aremaking a salary, receiving health care benefits and earning a pension. When they graduate the apprenticeship program, they’re making journeyman wages.” Otto BaumCompany, Inc. (OBCI), the Morton-based concrete contractor, hiresmany apprentices. “One of the best benefits of doing so is that the apprentice

different skilled trades to get a sense of what would interest you. Then make sure you understand the requirements and application process, since they differ between programs.” Most of the apprenticeship programs require a pre-evaluation or aptitude test and an interview. Minimum qual ifications usually include an official set of high school transcripts or GED certificate, birth certificate and valid driver’s license. Individuals then talk to a business agent, whowill discuss appren ticeship opportunities and openings. Apprenticeship programs can serve as a launchpad to a long and prosperous career. “While they have always been a valuable part of union construction, they’re even more so in today’s labor market,” said Baum. “I see opportunity in the union trades remaining strong due to infrastructure legislation passed in Illinois and nationally, and as contractors find it increasingly difficult to provide workers to meet construction demand.” “There’s so much opportunity for growth, especially here in central Illinois,” said Dillon. “If you wanted in today, it’s probably one of best opportunities to start a career in the skilled trades.” Bartolo, President of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council Apprentice and first year laborer Rodney Anderson, left, shakes hands with Matt

has typically had some exposure to the trades, has been vetted by the union, and gets paid a wage commensurate with skill level,” explained OBCI President Terry Baum. Unlike many professions, the skilled trades allow participants to move from company to company without sacrificing salary. “Because of our collective bargaining agreement, if I’m a union carpenter working for a company, and work slows down, I have the ability to move to a different company for the same money and benefits,” said Matt Bartolo, president of WCIBCTC. “I think that ’s what draws a lot of people in, especially if they have worked in the private sector and know that if the company they work for goes out of business, they may have to start completely over with another company for less pay, even if they have years of experience.” Another benefit of trades, said Cur rie, is the absence of student loans. “When you graduate from an appren ticeship program, you won’t have the debt you might incur by attending college. However, some of our pro grams are college-accredited, which means you can take credits you earned throughout the apprenticeship and receive a bachelor’s or associate’s de gree without being bogged down by student loan debt.” THINKING ABOUT A TRADE CAREER? For those interested in a career in the skilled trades, Currie recommends first doing some research. “Look at the

Amy Talcott is a senior marketing and communications analyst at RLI Corp. and a freelance writer

AUGUST 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE 65