What This Section Covers
This section explains how trades work for people in reentry. How to get hired fast. Which trades accept records. Which trades trap you in waitlists.
Trades are tools, not identities. Use the right one at the right time. Fast-entry trades solve immediate income problems. Skill trades build long-term earning power.
Speed matters. If you need money in 8 weeks, union apprenticeships do not solve that problem. Shutdown work does.
Two Paths Into Trades
Employer-based apprenticeships: Companies hire you as a helper and train you on the job. You start Monday. You get paid from day one. No waitlists. No formal programs.
Registered apprenticeships: Union or government programs. You apply. You wait months. Background checks happen at intake. Years to complete. Structure but slow.
Employer-based works faster for people with records. Registered programs reject more people upfront.
What Gets You Rejected
Insurance drives hiring. Contractors might want to hire you. Their liability insurer says no. Actuarial tables determine access, not morality.
Site access matters. Federal facilities run deeper checks than private industrial sites. Residential work requires customer trust. Remote sites care less about backgrounds.
Tools barrier: Most helper jobs require basic tools. No tools equals no start. Twenty-ounce hammer, tape measure, utility knife, steel-toe boots.
Why This Matters for Stability
Probation and parole require documented income. Trades provide verifiable W-2 work, consistent schedules, and paths to higher pay.
Fast-entry trades (shutdown work, solar, scaffolding) get you paid in 1-4 weeks. Skill trades (welding, wind turbine tech) take 3-6 months but offer better long-term income.
The articles below explain which trades hire fastest, how apprenticeships actually work, and when to choose speed over prestige.