Background and Types of Apprenticeships
– Apprenticeships are a system for training practitioners in a trade or profession, involving on-the-job training and sometimes classroom study.
– They can lead to a license to practice in a regulated profession.
– Most training is done while working for an employer.
– Examples of apprenticeship programs include electricians, carpenters, and aerospace and advanced manufacturing workers.
– Engineers in the United States must complete a modified form of apprenticeship to become licensed.
Youth Apprenticeship
– Youth Apprenticeship is a strategy to engage high school students in career-connected learning.
– It aims to lower the youth unemployment rate and skills gap.
– Programs provide students with a career and educational pathway into industry, allowing them to develop real-world skills and earn competitive wages.
– Examples of successful youth apprenticeship programs are found in Washington, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
– Programs like Apprenticeship Charlotte and Apprenticeship 2000 have been started in Charlotte, NC to promote apprenticeships.
Re-entry Apprenticeship
– Re-entry apprenticeship programs aim to decrease recidivism and increase employment opportunities for individuals who have been previously incarcerated.
– Participation in work and job skill programs decreases the likelihood of being recommitted.
– There are three main types of re-entry apprenticeship programs: jobs in the prison setting, vocational training in prison, and job search assistance upon release.
– Programs have the greatest effects on individuals older than 26 years old.
– Tailoring prison programs to the specific needs of offenders is important for success.
White-Collar Apprenticeships
– The U.S. Department of Labor has implemented white-collar apprenticeship programs based on successful European models.
– On-the-job training is provided in industries like information technology, insurance, and healthcare.
– Individuals gain specialized training and may receive an Associate’s Degree sponsored by the company.
– There has been an increase in the number of active white-collar apprenticeship programs, with corporate support from organizations like Amazon, CVS Health, Accenture, and Aon.
Benefits and Statistics of Apprenticeship Programs
– Apprenticeship programs provide a path for individuals to learn necessary skills in various industries.
– Active apprenticeship enrollment has increased significantly in recent years.
– Apprenticeships offer opportunities for both skilled trades and white-collar careers.
– Apprenticeship programs have bipartisan support.
– Companies like Amazon, CVS Health, and Accenture are actively involved in supporting apprenticeship programs.
– Data from the United States Department of Labor shows the percentage of construction apprenticeship agreements cancelled varies by trade. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apprenticeship_in_the_United_States
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Apprenticeship programs in the United States are regulated by the Smith–Hughes Act (1917), The National Industrial Recovery Act (1933), and National Apprenticeship Act, also known as the "Fitzgerald Act."
The number of American apprentices has increased from 375,000 in 2014 to 500,000 in 2016, while the federal government intends to see 750,000 by 2019, particularly by expanding the apprenticeship model to include white-collar occupations such as information technology.
