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July 6, 2026
NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN – With 259,000 job openings in the construction industry in April – up 25,000 from March and 52,000 year over year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey – demand for skilled trades workers remains strong.
As the industry works to build its future workforce, 17 young adults are beginning apprenticeship careers with Neenah-based Miron Construction Co., Inc., joining the next generation of skilled trades workers – including New London High School graduate Alana Oertel.
The only female in the group, Oertel is starting a registered masonry apprenticeship.
Setting the foundation
Taking on a full course-load during her junior year, Oertel said, set her up for success her senior year through the Miron apprenticeship program.
“It was a lot, but I pretty much took all of the rest of my graduation requirements my junior year,” she said. “By the time my junior year ended, I was mainly done with everything. In high school, I did a lot of carpentry, but I realized that wasn’t my thing. From there, I attended some field trips and got introduced to masonry and found I really liked it.”
Not coming from a family history of trades workers, Oertel said she hopes to continue with Miron and learn more about the industry going forward.
Miron Masonry Superintendent Ryan Hobbs – who has been with the company since 1999 – said Oertel was relentless in her pursuit of joining Miron’s apprentice program.
“She was persistent, all right,” he laughed. “She showed up, did a job-shadow and called multiple times before she got the chance. I fought for her and made everyone at Miron know she was serious about it.”
Oertel, in particular, Hobbs said, is motivated and smart and goes above and beyond what is expected.
“I’ve done a lot of youth programs at high schools, but it’s not the same compared to having someone work with you on-site daily,” he said. “Alana has done a great job, and I think she has a bright future in the industry.”
More on the program
Dawn Grenzer-Stumpf – Miron’s educational engagement manager – said the company has utilized several youth apprentices over the last six or seven years.
“During the last three years, we have increased our participation by about 150%,” she said.
Grenzer-Stumpf said part of her job is tapping into school districts statewide to allow students in that community to have an opportunity to begin a career path within the construction industry.
“We closed out the 2025-26 school year with 26 youth apprentices across the state,” she said. “We’re kicking off the 2026-27 school year with 17 youth apprentices statewide, and I’m certain that as we kick off more projects, that number will only increase.”
A need for skilled workers
David Polk – the director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards within the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development – said youth and union apprentices not only gain meaningful work experience that sets them up for success in the future, but they also add to the talent pipeline of skilled, diverse employees who innovate the workforce.
“Events and programs like this are so very important to take part in because a great company like Miron is giving these young adults a start in the trades at a very young age,” he said. “Data shows that when young people start a career at this age, they become the future leaders of that occupation.”
Polk said there are more than 12,000 youth apprentices in Wisconsin, which is the most of any state in the country.
According to a workforce forecast from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2031, only about 42% of jobs are expected to require a four-year degree or higher by 2031.
The study also found that while 58% of future jobs will not require a bachelor’s degree, many workers will still need technical training, apprenticeships or two-year degrees, particularly in fields such as health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, construction and the skilled trades.
“That’s where great companies like Miron come in,” he said.
