He was scouting the insulation union office, where he and two friends planned to sign up the next morning for an apprenticeship program — a multiyear program that offers mentoring and hands-on construction training. Fifteen hours before opening time, at 8am, a queue was already forming.
Alvarez, 25, said he called his friends, co-workers at a T-Mobile store in Queens, and told them to come to the building. By 5:30 p.m., they were in line with a tent — a smart decision, as it was drizzling in the morning.
In recent weeks, lines like these, filled with young people eager for careers in construction, have snaked through union offices. Citing poor job prospects, the cost of college and fears that artificial intelligence could soon take over their jobs, dozens of applicants and current apprentices said a job in the technical trades seemed like the best route to the future.
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“That’s one of the things that attracts me most to doing this, because it’s the kind of work that, for now, AI can’t do,” John Pallares, 29, said of construction work while standing in line with Alvarez. He feared his sales jobs at T-Mobile would become obsolete in just a few years.
About an hour after registration began, a coordinator signaled those still in line to go home. The union had already exhausted its 100 applications for around 15 vacancies. Last year, applications were available for days, according to a coordinator. For Alvarez and his friends, the night camping in line was worth it. They have secured the chips and will begin preliminary assessments later this month.
The surge in interest appears to be occurring across the country, according to a director at North America’s Building Trades Unions. In New York, the local ironworkers union has seen a 20 percent increase in the number of applicants over the past two years. Finishing trades increased by 50% from 2023 to 2024.
Interest is noticeably greater among younger generations, spreading through social media beyond the traditional “word of mouth”. Many in line learned about the opportunities through accounts like Workers Club NYC, which announces when applications will be distributed. Five years ago, applicants were typically in their early 30s — now they are in their 20s, with a “notable group straight out of high school.”
Many of these young people said they wanted to apply because of the current job market, which nationally is the most discouraging in years for recent graduates. In New York, the number of entry-level job postings fell 37% from 2022 to 2024.
Michael Figueroa, 18, who got a ticket after waiting all night, said he had trouble finding work. “Most of the jobs I’ve tried for have been in retail, but I can’t get hired. I feel comfortable with my resume, but it just doesn’t work.”
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Adding to the angst is the advancement of AI. A recent Harvard University survey found that the majority of young Americans believe AI threatens their career prospects. A Stanford report found “substantial declines” in employment among young workers in roles more exposed to technology, such as programming and customer service.
Manual fields, however, are not as vulnerable. The pay is also attractive: union apprentices earn competitive hourly rates and benefits; Starting salaries for graduates of some programs can start around $100,000 per year.
“I need something that I know won’t be, like, a robot taking over in a few years,” said Makayla Otero, 20, who is in a masonry program. “If something is broken, I know what’s wrong and I can fix it myself.”
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For those who get the job, the career begins with years of training. Tyshae Shields, 24, a commercial painting apprentice, says community college overwhelmed her. She found learning a career that helps her creative ambitions as an artist, as well as offering benefits such as health insurance and even pet insurance.
Although the work is physically exhausting, which can be difficult for parents who expected upward mobility via college, this generation is finding pride and solidarity in this type of endeavor.
The Adams administration currently expects to create 30,000 additional apprenticeships by 2030 to meet demand for projects totaling $7 billion under union agreements. In addition to stability, instructors say that young people gain a new view of the city. Jeffrey Astacio, 26, sums up the feeling by pointing to a hotel he worked at: “See that building over there? That was me.”
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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
c.2026 The New York Times Company
