THIS STUDY OF WISCONSIN'S APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN BUILDING, METAL AND OTHER TRADES DESCRIBES THE ROLES OF UNIONS, EMPLOYERS, ADVISORY COMMITTEES, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND THE STATE. IT ANALYZES REGISTRATIONS, COMPLETIONS, AND DROPOUTS, AND REPORTS THE OPINION FINDINGS FROM RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO APPRENTICES, DROPOUTS, AND EMPLOYERS. IMPROVED INSTRUCTION, TRAINING AND WAGES WERE FELT NEEDED BY APPRENTICES. WORKING CONDITIONS, LAYOFFS, AND LOW WAGES WERE MAJOR REASONS FOR DROPOUTS. UNFAVORABLE BUSINESS CONDITIONS, HIGH COST OF TRAINING, AND UNION INTERFERENCE HAD HINDERED EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT (1) EVALUATIONS OF THE PROGRAM BE MADE IN TERMS OF PROTECTING MINORS, DEVELOPING BETTER TRAINED WORKERS, EVOKING GREATER EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION, AND REDUCING DROPOUTS, (2) WISCONSIN'S PROGRAM OBJECTIVES BE RESTATED AS PART OF AN OVERALL NATIONAL MANPOWER AND TRAINING EFFORT, (3) ITS APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION BE ADDITIONALLY CHARGED WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR INITIATING AND CARRYING OUT PROGRAMS IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, AND (4) RESEARCH BE CARRIED OUT. PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE MADE. (APPENDIXES INCLUDE 38 TABLES, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND THREE QUESTIONNAIRES.) THIS THESIS WAS PUBLISHED BY THE CENTER FOR STUDIES IN VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON, WISCONSIN 53706. (RT)