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V O L . X X X I N O. X I I § 2 J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 5 8 K loey Arsenault was 18 and had just gradu- ated from high school when she enrolled in the AFL-CIO's Union Construction Academy of Maine to train as an ironworker. Her dad is an ironworker and at first she was looking to make him proud. e motive evolved. Now age 19, she's a member of Ironworkers Local 7, making a good wage with raises and benefits and most recently working for Ipswich Bay Glass on construction of the Univer- sity of Southern Maine's Crewe Center for the Arts. "I love my job and going to work with my best friends," she says. Arsenault was enrolled in the academy's free, four-week registered pre-apprentice program, which prepares workers to succeed in registered appren- ticeship programs and to build careers. Earning wages from the start, most apprentices have little to no debt when they graduate and sta- tistically earn higher wages as they become more skilled. e intensive program is designed not only to give participants certifications and training, but to help them build a sense of community with oth- ers who will be apprentices. e union works with graduates to help them land in the workforce. e program includes classroom and fieldwork. "I'm really proud that I went through that pro- gram. We need to get more younger people in the trades," says Arsenault. Diverse demographics e Union Construction Academy is one of a grow- ing suite of construction workforce development pro- grams looking to address workforce shortages. Goals include attracting diverse demographics traditionally underrepresented in the industry and providing paths both to entry and to lifelong professional development. Started in May 2023 and run by the Maine AFL- CIO, Maine Building Trades Council and the New England Laborers Training Academy, it's designed specifically to prepare a diverse workforce. e 160 We provide a small teacher-to-student ratio and support that continues after they graduate from the program. — Sam Boss Maine AFL-CIO Building the CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE A growing suite of training opportunities address critical shortage of workers B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 0 » P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E A F L - C I O The Union Construction Academy is one of a growing suite of construction workforce development programs looking to address workforce shortages.