This paper examines trends in occupational mismatch in the metal, building, vehicle, and electrical trades and questions whether the process of award restructuring that began in the late 1980s has created incentives for unskilled blue collar workers to pursue skill-based career paths in the trades. Chapter 1 discusses the paper's aim and history of apprenticeship. Chapter 2 presents an overview of tradesmen, qualified and unqualified, between 1971-96 and gives a perspective of how many unqualified tradesmen have been working each trade area, what sorts of jobs qualified tradesmen have taken, and possible reasons for high levels of unqualified tradesmen. Chapter 3 reviews both legislative rules and procedural behaviors that have inhibited or promoted the formal training and recognition of unqualified adult tradespeople. Chapter 4 examines the effect of training market reforms over the past 10-15 years on the career progression of experienced, but not apprenticed, tradespeople in the main trades. Chapter 5 estimates a model of the comparative level of job satisfaction for tradespeople that was developed in seeking information on why the trades have high attrition rates. Chapter 6 looks at the role of post-trade training in lowering attrition of qualified tradespeople from the trade. Chapter 7 concludes with recommendations for further research. (Appendixes include 50 references, state training legislation, and main data sources consulted.) (YLB)