Madison, October 6, 2026 — It’s another record-breaking year for construction apprenticeship enrollment. Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC-WI) celebrates the almost 2,800 apprentices enrolled in ABC-WI apprenticeship program. Of those, more than 700 apprentices are beginning their first year. This number is an increase from the year before and reflects a growing interest in the skilled trades.
“We are thrilled to see more and more young people recognize the promising future available with a construction career,” said Kelly Tourdot, president of ABC-WI. “ABC members are building Wisconsin’s infrastructure. Apprentices who train with them are learning marketable skills and earning competitive wages.”
The ABC-WI apprenticeship program is the largest apprenticeship program in the state, providing training in 12 distinct trades. Apprentices are assigned an apprenticeship manager to guide them through their program. Then they have classroom instruction in partnership with Wisconsin’s technical colleges and on the job training with ABC-WI’s members. The program can take between three and five years to complete, depending on the trade.
Due to increased demand for ABC-WI’s training in the Madison area, ABC-WI opened the Center for Apprenticeship Excellence in August. The new center provides space for classrooms, labs, and serves as the training space for nearly 500 Madison-area apprentices learning electrical, hvac or plumbing. Partnerships with technical colleges throughout the state continue for apprentices in other regions.
“We are excited to expand the opportunities for training in the Madison area,” said Brandi Davis, Director of Apprenticeship. “We are also proud to partner with Wisconsin’s tech college system, to ensure the development of skilled tradespeople statewide.”
In addition to the classroom, apprentices are employed by ABC-WI member companies and spend most of their time doing on-the-job training. ABC-WI has more than 1,100 member companies, with a significant number training apprentices. Their locations throughout Wisconsin provide many opportunities to advance in skilled trades.
Apprentices in ABC-WI’s program choose between 12 distinct trades, and graduate within 3-5 years, depending on the trade selected and the hours worked. This year’s apprenticeship enrollment reflects an increased interest in electrical work. More than two-thirds of the new apprentices are entering the program to become an electrician. Electricians are needed on every commercial construction project, with specialized work required in many projects such as hospitals, veterinary clinics, and solar panel installation.
Cole McCloskey is an electrician and graduate of ABC-WI’s program. Today he co-owns The Electrician, Inc. in Verona, Wisconsin.
“The ABC apprenticeship program provided me with the skills I needed to succeed as an electrician- but it also gave soft skills that prepared me to move up the ranks,” McCloskey explains. “Thanks to the merit-based system, I now am part owner of an electrical company, and I’m proud to help train the next generation of apprentices.”
For more information on ABC-WI Apprenticeships, visit www.buildyourcareerwi.org.
