There's no eraser on an electrical lineman's pencil. As they say, "get it done right the first time, every time."

"It's definitely physically challenging, and mentally you got to know what you're doing," said Justin Chaput, an apprentice lineman. "You can't be scared of heights."

Make no mistake-these guys don't brag about how easy their job is. They're paid well for a reason. This is physically demanding, technical work in some of the roughest conditions.

"I can't decide if I like being in the rain in Juneau or being up north in Delta Junction where it's windy as heck," said Heather Hinkle, an apprentice with the Ironworkers Local 751.

For the first time, the State of Alaska has taken an in-depth look at apprentice programs in Alaska. The groundbreaking study reveals some startling numbers.

Since 1996, 90 percent of those who completed an apprentice program are still working in Alaska, and they're earning nearly twice as much as those doing the same job outside of the union.

Nearly 6,000 of the total number of apprentices are male; only about 500 are female.

A first-year apprentice makes about $19 an hour. There's a 10 percent raise every year, and then as a journeymen they start out at about $32 an hour.

And work is relatively easy to find, they say. Union representatives say Alaska is facing a construction worker shortage.

"If the gas pipeline goes through, I've been told that we're going to need 120 apprentices to man that job alone," said Charles Engblom, a training coordinator with Ironworkers "Right now we're running right at around 50 apprentices."

The labor takes a toll on workers: They spend significant time away from home and families-only a fraction of the jobs are in Anchorage-and the human body can only take so many years of climbing and heavy lifting.

That is partly why, since 1996, about 46 percent of applicants cancelled their apprenticeship or failed to complete it.

Any decline in construction activity would impact the success of apprenticeship programs. And while there may be a slowdown in the short term, the state points out that total construction employment is expected to grow by nearly 18 percent through 2016.

As reported by: Ted Land, KTUU News Channel 2 Anchorage, Alaska.