Equal opportunity and workforce programs | On-the-job training program
On-the-job training program FAQs for contractors
To assist with the development of a skilled and diverse highway construction workforce. Specifically, the program enhances the career prospects of traditionally underrepresented individuals by improving access to journey-level positions.
Per 23 CFR 230.111, "the State highway agency shall determine which Federal-aid highway construction contracts shall include the 'Training Special Provisions' (appendix B) and the minimum number of trainees to be specified therein after giving appropriate consideration to the guidelines set forth in §230.111(c)".
An individual must be a minority, woman, and/or otherwise disadvantaged. Further, an individual cannot be a trainee in any classification in which they have been employed as a journeyperson or are considered skilled in all areas of that classification.
A federally funded project that is estimated to be 100 working days or more, and at least $1 million per the engineer's estimate.
MnDOT OCR uses the following guidelines:
- Availability of minorities, women, and/or disadvantaged persons for training
- The potential for effective training
- Duration of the contract
- Dollar value of the contract
- Total normal workforce that the average bidder could be expected to use
- Geographic location
- Type of work
- The need for additional journeypersons in the area
- Recognition of the suggested minimum goal for the state
- A satisfactory ratio of trainees to journeypersons expected to be on the contractor’s workforce during normal operations
Review the OJT section of contract (section 2041) or contact the MnDOT Equal Employment/Contract Compliance team.
If a contract has an OJT goal, the contractor must make a good faith effort to achieve this project-specific OJT goal set by the MnDOT Office of Civil Rights. In contrast, if the contractor is enrolled in the OJT alternative program, it must make a good faith effort to achieve the yearly trainee goal and yearly minimum hours goal set by the MnDOT Office of Civil Rights.
To be counted as an OJT trainee, an employee must be a minority, woman, and/or disadvantaged individual. The MnDOT Office of Civil Rights must also approve the employee for the OJT program. In contrast, enrollment as an apprentice is not based on demographics. Per the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, apprenticeship is a formal system of employee training that combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction. With apprenticeship training, there is a written contract between the apprentice and the sponsor, approved by and registered with the State of Minnesota (see https://www.dli.mn.gov/workers/be-apprentice/apprenticeship-information-and-faqs).
No.
Yes.
Contractors must submit an OJT Trainee Application for each OJT trainee either prior to their start date or within 30 days of their actual start date each calendar year.
The OJT Trainee Approval letter includes the name and trade of the OJT trainee, whether they graduated from a MnDOT OJT Supportive Services program, and their effective approval/reimbursement date and hourly reimbursement amount.
Contact the MnDOT Equal Employment/Contract Compliance team.
The prime contractor is eligible for reimbursement at the following rates:
- $1 per hour: approved OJT trainee
- $5 per hour: approved OJT trainee + graduate of MnDOT OJT Supportive Services program
- $10 per hour: approved OJT trainee + graduate of MnDOT OJT Supportive Services program + assigned a mentor
The timeframe for being an OJT trainee is consistent with the hours established by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. For trade-specific hours, see table below:
| Trade | Hours |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | 7,000 |
| Cement Mason | 6,000 |
| Crane Operator | 8,000 |
| Electrician | 8,000 |
| Iron Worker | 6,000 |
| Laborer | 4,000 |
| Operating Engineer | 4,000 |
| Painter | 6,000 |
| Pile Driver | 8,000 |
| Pipefitters | 8,750 |
| Truck Driver | 2,000 |
The prime contractor receives the OJT reimbursement.
Possibly, if there are project funds available after reaching the OJT goal. The MnDOT project engineer provides reimbursement at their discretion for hours that exceed the OJT goal.
MnDOT partners with union training centers and a variety of organizations to provide highway construction training to interested individuals. OJT Supportive Services training is also called workforce training. For further information visit the Office of Civil Rights Business and Program Development.
Request the Certificate of Completion from the trainee or contact the MnDOT Office of Civil Rights Business and Program Development staff.
- The hours worked in the trade in which the trainee was approved and
- The hours worked on or after the effective reimbursement date indicated on the OJT Trainee Approval Letter
Yes.