The Benefits of an Apprenticeship Program

Apprenticeship programs can be beneficial for both employers and the trainees. Employers gain workers trained directly to the specification needed to perform a job, and apprentices gain specialized knowledge and get paid while learning.

Modern apprenticeships combine classroom instruction with hands-on training.

Paid Training from the First Day

With apprenticeships training, workers earn pay from the first day of training. Pay increases as the training progresses, according to the US Department of Labor (DOL). When the trainee reaches the end of the apprenticeship, he or she walks away with a credential that’s nationally recognized. The newly trained worker may choose to keep working with the employer that offer the training, if asked, or that trainee may opt to go work elsewhere. During the training, the employer gains a dedicated worker and in some states, tax credits are available to companies that use apprentices.

Paid to Learn

When entering free apprenticeship programs, workers get paid to learn a trade, according to the Center for American Progress. This is different than an internship, where a worker performs job tasks in exchange for the experience and receives very little, if any, pay in exchange for the labor. Most of the current apprenticeships in the UNS are in skilled trades, though the apprenticeship model is easily adapted to many other industries and types of occupations.

Little or No Debt at the End of the Apprenticeship Period

At the end of the training period for a lucrative skilled trade, such as when a boilermaker apprenticeship ends, the worker walks away with little or no additional debt. Compare that to the average student loan debt of $37,172 of student loan debt per college graduate, as of 2016 reports, according to Forbes. In some cases, the apprenticeship also applies toward earning a college degree or certificate.

Middle Class Careers Without a College Degree

Almost all high school graduates today have a plan to work to earn a Bachelor’s degree, but less than half succeed in that goal, according to the Center for American Progress. Apprenticeships, such as an apprenticeship in electrical jobs, provide trainees higher than average income levels without the requirement of getting a college degree. Apprenticeships provide a way to learn the skills needed to earn higher wages even without studying to earn a college degree.

Higher Worker Retention

As many as 91 percent of apprentices are still working in their chosen fields nine months after completing an apprenticeship, such as diesel mechanic apprenticeships, according to the DOL. This is an advantage for workers, employers and the entire workforce system. Workers benefit by building up a bit of job security and seniority. Employers benefit because low turnover reduces the cost of finding and training new workers.