The Wisconsin State Legislature has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 26, which designates May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. This resolution highlights the significance of the construction industry and the skilled trades, emphasizing that these professions offer critical, rewarding, and high-paying jobs that are essential to the state's economy and cannot be outsourced. It notes the urgent need for skilled workers, particularly as a significant portion of the current workforce is nearing retirement age, and projects that the industry will require an additional half million workers in 2025 alone.

The resolution also acknowledges Wisconsin's long-standing commitment to apprenticeship programs, including the nation's oldest registered apprenticeship program and the pioneering Youth Apprenticeship initiative. These programs have seen record participation, with over 17,000 registered apprentices and nearly 10,000 youth apprentices in the previous year. By celebrating Skilled Trades Day, the legislature aims to raise awareness of the vital contributions made by skilled tradespeople in building and maintaining the infrastructure of communities across Wisconsin.