I did the hiring through an apprenticeship program before. Yes, there was a pool of employees but they weren't any better than those I could find on my own.
I employed a guy, and paid for his schooling for two years. He dropped out of the apprenticeship and started his own business, taking some of my customers with him.
The next 'association apprentice' guy they sent me showed up for the interview at Chili's for lunch, hung over from partying the night before. He had told me he had the flu. His friend who drove him there told me on the guys second trip to the bathroom he was hung over.
He left the table abruptly a couple of times for the bathroom. I had no idea he did not make it either time before he 'tossed his cookies'. This was at lunch time. The manager came to my table told me what he had done, and asked us to leave. One of my more embarrassing moments.
Associations are not clear cut ways to get help.
"I employed a guy, and paid for his schooling for two years. He dropped out of the apprenticeship and started his own business, taking some of my customers with him."
Why do you have to go thru an association, in my state the contractor goes direct to the labor department, and we have the apprentice sign a, legal, non compete agreement when he accepts the job. and signs on for the program.