Multnomah County supports construction workforce development through apprenticeship training and the support of pre-apprenticeship programs.
Apprenticeship Programs:
Apprenticeship programs enable students to receive training in a skilled trade through classroom and work on-the-job training. Each apprenticeship trade has a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), which outlines the procedures required to complete the apprenticeship program and a journey level certification. Apprenticeship programs usually consist of two to five years of supervised, on-the-job experience in the chosen trade. On-the-job and trade related hours can only be logged once the workers is registered through the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).
In order to qualify, apprentices must meet certain basic qualifications based on age, education, and experience. Most State-registered Apprentice programs require a minimum of 144 classroom hours and lab/shop training per year plus 4,000 to 8,000 hour of on-the-job training depending on the program.
Pre-apprenticeship Training Programs:
Pre-Apprenticeship programs prepare individuals who are seeking new careers in the construction trades. These programs are designed to help individuals build the necessary skills to meet the minimum entry qualifications to enter a trade or apprenticeship program.
These programs are a vital first step for many individuals who do come not from a construction background. Many non-profit organizations exist within Multnomah County that support the specific growth of groups such as women and women identified persons, high schools students, individuals with prior justice system involvement, ect. Pre-Apprenticeship programs can be found on the BOLI Apprenticeship website.
