Evaluation of the Effect of Supportive Services on the Success of Apprentices in a Highway Trade

Maura Kelly, Portland State University

Summary:

This project evaluates the impact of a Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) initiative that provides supportive services (i.e., child care subsidies; fuel assistance; support for overnight travel; and tools, clothing, and personal protective equipment) to promote retention of apprentices in the highway trades, with particular concern for increasing the retention of women and people of color. This research project specifically focuses on the Knife River apprentice program. This is a useful case study as all apprentices in the program are employed by the same employer (most apprentice programs have multiple employers), and because approximately half of the current apprentices at Knife River are receiving supportive services from BOLI. The primary goal of this project is to evaluate the effect of supportive services on apprentice success in highway trades through a case study of apprentices at Knife River. The secondary goal isto assess the impact of the supportive services on the employer and the apprentice program at Knife River.

Project Details

Project Type:
Research
Project Status:
Completed
End Date:
September 30,2013
UTC Grant Cycle:
OTREC Small Starts
UTC Funding:
$6,014