The prospect of embarking on a traditional 9-5 career after college may seem to be the only desirable path for many students, primarily due to parental pressure to acquire a four-year degree. Nevertheless, it’s essential to realize that a satisfying career doesn’t necessarily require a college degree.
Many individuals perceive apprenticeship programs as a gateway to middle-class status, providing tangible skills and career-focused training. Best of all, unlike traditional college or university education, apprenticeships come without an alarming price tag, offering a more cost-effective learning experience.
APPRENTICESHIPS: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Apprenticeships are not new inventions. They’ve been part of our social fabric far longer than many can fathom, dating back to the 12th century in the United Kingdom. As craftsmen migrated to the New World, they brought along this tradition to preserve and transfer their skills and talents.
An article from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries tells us that many craft skills were traditionally inherited from generation to generation in families. In the modern era, the US established its first structured and regulated apprenticeship system through legislation signed in Wisconsin in 1911.
Gradually, the US government initiated its involvement in apprenticeships, advocating for them two decades later and formulating The Federal Committee on Apprenticeship. Presently, the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training establishes the benchmarks for registered apprenticeships and manages its organization’s programs division.
HESITANCY OF US BUSINESSES TOWARDS APPRENTICESHIPS
While apprenticeships are readily embraced in European countries, many US businesses appear hesitant in adopting this model. People often identify apprenticeships with vocational jobs like welding, plumbing, or carpentry.
However, it’s important to note that apprenticeship schemes can be integrated into any business model. Take the example of CVS Pharmacy, which runs a pharmacy technician apprenticeship program providing participants with hands-on training and concurrent income.
CVS Health highlights that it was the first employer to introduce a pharmacy technician program in 2005, a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship. Many pharmacy technicians have leveraged this experience as a stepping stone in their careers, transitioning to pharmacists without incurring the cost of a four-year college program.
There’s also a prevailing misconception that employers neglect apprenticeships due to their inclination towards the education circumventing a typical college experience while undervaluing the potential advantages of an apprenticeship.
A recent talk on ‘The Diane Rehm Show’ considered the difficulties confronting apprenticeships as not solely an educational concern but also a promotional one. Misapprehensions about apprenticeships frequently deter people from considering careers in these areas.
To expand the scope of apprenticeships, we need to alter perceptions regarding them in the US. Many proponents within the Labor Department understand the benefits, and apprentices completing their training programs also see the prospects that these schemes can commodiously offer.
APPRENTICESHIP BENEFICIARIES
Clearly, apprentices undoubtedly benefit from such programs due to their potential for growth. Apprenticeships also offer the security of a steady income while gaining tradecraft skills, a boon in combating youth unemployment.
Moreover, apprenticeships appeal to students more inclined towards learning in practical environments, offering them an attractive alternative to traditional classroom settings.
Employers also derive numerous benefits from offering on-the-job training. They nurture future talent, foster loyalty, and spur competitiveness within their industry. A 2013 article in American Progress even suggested that apprenticeships curtail employee turnover and counter skill scarcity by cultivating a new workforce proficient in experienced employee skills.
THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF APPRENTICESHIPS
For those wary of burgeoning educational debts seen in older colleagues or family members, apprenticeships may provide an economically sound alternative. Compared to the soaring tuition costs of private and public colleges for the 2014-2015 academic year, an apprenticeship’s affordable or virtually null cost provides a more accessible gateway to upscale living, skill acquisition, and specialized training.
To many, the main allure of apprenticeships lies in their economical pricing – many apprentice programs cost nothing for the apprentice. Combining paid on-the-job training with career advancement is a win-win proposition for many students.
EXPLORE APPRENTICESHIPS
For more details about apprenticeship programs, you may find the following resources helpful:
– US Department of Labor: Offering intel on registered apprenticeships, useful for both employees and employers, and ways to locate local apprenticeship opportunities. The DOL strives to help students understand programs that could facilitate their personal and professional development.
– International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: Stay updated with the latest news concerning labor and apprenticeships in the US and overseas.
– Vocational Information Center: Access links for US apprenticeships and resources from other countries, and learn about educational and training resources available to apprentices around the globe.
Have you ever contemplated enrolling in an apprenticeship program? Do you consider them valuable or a viable alternative to traditional education?
