A new GOP bill would change Wisconsin’s apprenticeship law to allow skilled workers to supervise two construction apprentices each instead of one, according to WisBusiness. Lawmakers pointed out that over 600,000 new skilled construction workers will be needed every year to meet current demand and replace retiring workers — a demand that will increase as Baby Boomers leave the workforce.
Wisconsin last year set a new apprenticeship program enrollment record with 17,089 apprentices, but the authors of the new bill say the current one-to-one ratio for journeyworkers to apprentices limits the number of program participants, particularly for small businesses. GOP lawmakers said that’s been a hindrance to the industry.
The ratio has been in place since 2017, a memo from the bill authors says. That memo was circulated just before state officials last week announced that Wisconsin had set a new record for youth apprenticeships. In total, 11,344 were enrolled during the 2024-25 school year, marking a 14% increase over the previous year. The agriculture and construction pathway was responsible for 1,409 apprentices from that total.
