Professional Competencies of Building Trade Apprentices After Their First Year of Training

Abstract

The study presented here (DFG Ni 606 7-1) focuses on the professional competencies of building trade apprentices after their first year of training. Its main objectives are (1) to examine the dimensional structure of the apprentices’ professional competence and (2) to provide a description of their actual competencies by defining different competency levels. For this purpose, empirical data on 273 building trade apprentices (carpenters, tilers and plasterers) were collected. Confirmatory factor analyses and chi-square difference tests, corresponding to theoretical assumptions, show that a four-dimensional solution provides the best model fit—the four dimensions being technical drawing, basic technical mathematics, professional knowledge, and professional problem-solving. As was expected, all four dimensions show high latent correlations (r >.71). As previous studies have reported, the competency level of building trade apprentices is generally rather low. Major differences exist between apprentices of the different professions: on average, carpenters perform significantly better than do tilers or plasterers. A closer look at the competency levels in professional problem-solving reveals that almost two-thirds of the tilers and plasterers score at the lowest level (below level 1) and do not reach the curricular goals of the first year of training.