An apprenticeship training program for construction craft laborers typically lasts three to five years and consists of on-the-job and classroom instruction. Apprenticeships can be sponsored by employers, employer associations and labor unions. Many apprenticeship training programs require students to complete at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job experience and about 400 hours of classroom training, according to the Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust Fund. Completion of these requirements leads a student to be promoted to a journeyperson--an individual who has finished learning a trade and is an experienced worker.
Apprenticeship students also usually are paid a progressively increasing wage consistent with the amount of knowledge and experience they gain. This usually is 60 percent of a journeyworker's rate followed by 10 percent increases with every 1,000 hours completed of work and class attendance. In some programs, students also can count their apprenticeship as college credit, according to Ohio Laborers' Training and Apprenticeship Trust Fund.
To get into an apprenticeship construction craft laborer program, students typically need to be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and have a valid driver's license. Applicants also usually need to be able to take and pass a drug test as well as complete a physical examination. Students must have a reading, understanding, writing and communicating ability as well as math skills.
Classes in an apprenticeship construction craft laborer training program cover topics such as blueprint reading, the correct use of tools and equipment and knowledge of safety/health procedures. Students then receive specialized training in the largest segments of the construction industry, including building construction, heavy/highway construction and environmental remediation. Environmental remediation refers to restoring the environment to its original state. Program classes might cover basic construction math, asphalt placement, concrete mixing, mason tending and pipelaying, according to the Indiana State District Council of Laborers. Students also can study hydro-mobile scaffolding, welding and foreman preparedness. In addition, many construction laborer programs are training apprentices on "green" construction, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
After completing an apprenticeship construction craft laborer training program, students can join construction industry teams that build water mains, buildings, factories, stores, plants, bridges, airports, light-rail systems, stadiums or even treatment plants. They also can do demolition on existing buildings containing asbestos, lead-based paint, low-level radiation and hazardous waste. In addition, construction laborers install traffic control devices and patterns. Construction laborers additionally can earn certifications in specific areas such as concrete finishing, become self-employed or advance to become construction supervisors or general contractors.
Employment of construction laborers is expected to increase by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The hourly wage for building construction and heavy/highway construction journeymen can range from $24 to $28, according to ChooseConstruction.org.