It’s the oldest form of training in history, and while some businesses continue to see it as an effective way to expand the skilled labor workforce, many companies seem unaware that they, too, might benefit from an apprenticeship program.
As Business Report details in a feature from the current issue, contemporary apprenticeship programs—which generally combine classroom education with on-the-job training—offer what many workers see as the best of two worlds: Apprentices can earn wages during the period of their training, and by the time they complete the program, they have gained solid experience that can lead them into the upper echelons of the wage scale for their particular trade.
From the standpoint of an employer that offers the program, an apprenticeship is an excellent way to develop a loyal employee and not only train the worker into a high skill level, but also indoctrinate him or her into the company’s own particular culture.
“It’s the oldest and most time-tested workforce development training program,” says Bryan Moore, workforce development director for the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Many fresh graduates from high school or even short-course skills training programs find it difficult to land a job because employers want candidates who bring solid experience along with them, Moore notes.
Job applicants face the seemingly impossible situation of not being able to get appropriate experience because they cannot get anyone to hire them. Apprenticeships can change that picture.
Anyone can apply to become an apprentice, and once accepted into a program, the individual immediately goes to work, earning wages that will increase incrementally as he or she advances through the training tiers. As long as the apprentice keeps up with the classroom training and performs at an acceptable level on the job, regular wage increases are nearly guaranteed.
Moore says the real beauty of such programs for an apprentice is the near certainty of being able to secure good, full-time employment through the program.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission maintains a registry of approved apprenticeship programs offered around the state. The commission has certified each program as having met all of the federal apprenticeship requirements set forth for each industry involved.
Moore says that despite the effectiveness of apprenticeships, plenty of businesses that might benefit from implementing a program may not be aware of what they’re missing.
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