2. News Room

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Draft guidance published for non-union apprenticeship wage rates

MADISON – As part of an annual process to offer guidance for compensating non-union construction apprentices, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today published maps and accompanying data that are used for establishing local skilled wage rates.

The draft rates, which vary by geographical region, are meant to inform the base rate for apprentice compensation for workers in construction trades who are not under a collective bargaining agreement. The process for establishing the rates provides opportunities for feedback and engagement with local apprenticeship committees, which have until Nov. 18 to contact DWD's Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.

"Apprenticeships in Wisconsin reached new all-time highs this year and we are working hard to support pathways to new careers that offer paid training," DWD Sec. Amy Pechacek said. "Wisconsin was the first in the nation to offer Registered Apprenticeship and today, the skilled wage rate process continues to build on the successes of this program."

The draft skilled wage rate maps are not intended as a basis for the pay rates of journeyworkers or skilled workers but rather to provide transparency to the criteria DWD uses to approve apprenticeship wage scales. The wage rates published by DWD are used to inform the minimum compensation – not the ceiling – for apprenticeship compensation.

The rates posted in the guidance maps are based on the best available statistical data. This year's maps use data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. This methodology reflects a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Local Employment and Wage Information System (LEWIS). The survey uses unemployment insurance information to identify the number of employees in a given occupation within a specific geographical location and the wages paid to them.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.