TradesFutures Child Care Pilot
Supporting Parents in the Building Trades: Childcare shouldn’t stand in the way of a career in the skilled trades, but for many parents, it does. Construction work often begins before sunrise, ends late, or changes daily, and most childcare centers simply aren’t built around those schedules. On top of that, the cost of care continues to rise, putting immense strain on low- and middle-income families. Without reliable, affordable options, parents struggle to enter and stay in apprenticeship programs and the broader construction workforce.
TradesFutures aims to alleviate these barriers, having launched two childcare pilot programs designed specifically for the realities of tradespeople. These pilots strive to break down long-standing barriers so parents can access, sustain, and thrive in high-quality union careers.
Why Child Care Is a Barrier: Traditional childcare hours rarely align with the early mornings, late days, and unpredictable shifts that define construction life. Many parents cannot find care that opens early enough or remains open long enough to support their work schedules. At the same time, escalating childcare costs place a heavy financial burden on families and can make full participation in training or employment nearly impossible. When parents lack dependable care, they face constant instability, and the industry loses dedicated workers who might otherwise stay and evolve in the trades. Our childcare pilots are designed to address these challenges head-on.
Our Pilot Programs: TradesFutures tested two models in partnership with local building trades councils, unions, and nonprofit organizations. In Milwaukee, WI, we implemented a combined near-site and voucher model that provides financial support to help parents access reliable care close to home or work. This pilot supported ten apprentices and tradespeople for a full twelve months of assistance.
In New York City, NY, we administered a voucher-only model that offers direct cash assistance to parents for childcare expenses. This initiative also supported ten participants over a twelve-month period. Together, these pilots will help us understand what approaches are most effective and how they can be scaled to serve more families across the country.
Our Impact Goals: Through this work, TradesFutures aims to reduce the stress and uncertainty that parents face in managing both childcare and demanding construction schedules. By providing consistent support, we hope to improve retention in apprenticeship and union careers, particularly among women who disproportionately shoulder childcare responsibilities. These pilots will generate insights and best practices that can inform national strategies and long-term investments in making childcare more accessible for the skilled trades workforce.
Child Care Facility Near Job Site with Voucher Pilot: Milwaukee
