Insights and Perspectives

American Apprenticeship: From The Founding Fathers To The Future Of Our Country

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:11:00 GMT

From their conception in the Middle Ages to their contributions in the early years of the United States to modern day career pathways, apprenticeships have a long history of supplying affordable labor to businesses while also providing wages and training to the next generation of skilled trades and craftsmen. The earliest careers initiated in the U.S. by apprenticeships were those such as surveyor, printer, and silversmith. National Apprenticeship Week, which is observed from November 15-21 this year, is a chance for our country not just to acknowledge the contribution apprenticeships have made in the formation of our country’s economy and infrastructure, but also the potential of these programs to create sustainable careers and talent pipelines for the future.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the journey to modern apprenticeship programs began in 1911 when Wisconsin created the very first state Registered Apprenticeship system, and the U.S. Congress followed suit in 1937 with the Fitzgerald Act. In this post-industrial revolution U.S., apprenticeships programs fell mostly within the industries of manufacturing, construction, and utilities. During the Baby Boom years following World War II, apprenticeship programs began to expand to include training of firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, and other health and safety workers.

In 2017, the Executive Order on Expanding Apprenticeships in America was signed in an effort to support the expansion of apprenticeship programs within the United States. These programs now encompass the more traditional occupations of manufacturing and construction as well as emerging and high-growth industries such as energy conservation, healthcare, and information technology. Apprenticeship programs are hugely beneficial to all parties involved.

The Apprenticeship Advantage

For individuals, modern apprenticeship programs provide a way to pursue a career with growth potential without incurring the heavy burden of student debt associated with most 4-year degrees. Students may even discover apprenticeship programs offer a complement to scholastic education by providing a means of living as they matriculate and offer the experience needed to enter the workforce after graduation. Earning progressive wages throughout the program is an attractive component of many apprenticeships, and demonstrates to the apprentice the skills attained as well as the benefits of pursuing that particular industry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, individuals who complete apprenticeship programs can earn $300,000 more across their career than their peers who did not complete an apprenticeship.

For employers, apprenticeships are a means of developing a highly-skilled workforce with specialized knowledge handed down through mentors and hands-on learning. As many industries are facing dwindling numbers of appropriately-skilled workers, apprenticeship programs create the opportunity to develop a skilled workforce by connecting education with the modern workplace. Unions and other trade organizations also benefit when they sponsor apprenticeships by insuring their numbers remain high. Educational institutions can discover new avenues to a student population previously unavailable to them through apprenticeship programs.

According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, nearly 9 out of 10 apprentices are employed at the end of their program, and apprenticeship programs continue to provide a competitive advantage to American workers, businesses, labor management organizations, education and training institutions, the workforce investment system and government.

Supporting Apprenticeships Programs in More Ways than One

Geographic Solutions proudly supports apprenticeships as a career path to lead individuals to growth-focused employment while also creating wage-earing opportunities. In December 2019, Geographic Solutions created an apprenticeship program to help prepare local students for the future and to build a pipeline of workers. The program was hailed as a success and two-thirds of the inaugural apprentices were hired into permanent roles within the company.

We have also developed an Apprenticeship Module to monitor and track Registered Apprenticeships (RA), Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP), and other programs that incorporate on-the-job training and instruction. The standalone or integrated module is offered as part of Virtual OneStop Sapphire, and serves as a case management conduit between individuals, providers, and agency staff. This solution captures necessary data regarding programs and participants and compiles the data for federal reporting. Reports can ascertain the extent to which states' goals have been achieved, and identify areas for improvement.

The module is currently in use in numerous states including Alabama, Maryland, Missouri, and more. For more information on Geographic Solutions’ Apprenticeship Module, contact us for a demo or quote.

Year Of The Apprentice: How States And Employers Are Creating Apprenticeship Programs

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 17:05:00 GMT

You’re likely to find them in all walks of life: soccer fields, machine shops, artisan studios, and multinational corporations.

Throughout history, some of the most influential and well-known individuals began their careers as apprentices. Soccer great David Beckham started as one before joining Manchester United Football Club. Automobile manufacturer Henry Ford left home at 16 to become an apprentice machinist before eventually founding his namesake company. Stella McCartney, daughter of musical legend Paul McCartney, completed an apprenticeship with world-renowned suit maker, Edward Sexton. Leonardo Da Vinci went on to become one of the greatest painters, sculptors, and inventors of all time after apprenticing.

Loosely following a practice of supervisory teaching and skills transfer that dates back to the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, an apprentice would typically receive on-the-job training from employers as they learned crafts or trades. The length of an apprenticeship would change to meet the needs of each profession and differ in terms of success factors and goals.

The Modern-Day Apprentice

Fast forward to 2019, where apprenticeship is still a crucial part of skills-based training, and on-the-job learning. In June, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced their highly anticipated plans to expand apprenticeships in the United States, establishing a process for the development of high-quality, industry-recognized programs, and creating a new system that will pave the way for educational institutions to receive grants when they partner with employers.

Part of their campaign includes the availability of grant funding to engage employers nationwide in creating new apprenticeship opportunities across a wide range of occupations and industry sectors. Eligible grant applicants will include nonprofit trade organizations, industry and employer associations, educational institutions, labor unions, and more.

The Labor Department will support local efforts with the availability of Apprenticeship State Expansion Grants. Their hope is to expand the number of Registered Apprenticeship Programs nationwide, supporting and encouraging program diversification, increasing the diversity of apprentices, and growing apprenticeships across industry sectors. Together, these program goals have the potential to advance the integration of Registered Apprenticeship Programs into state workforce development, education, and economic development strategies and programs.

Rising to the Occasion

As part of USDOL’s renewed investment in on-the-job training, several states have moved to add robust apprenticeship programs to their workforce program repertoire.

Out west, the California Workforce Association’s Executive Director, Bob Lanter, shared with attendees at the 2019 Workforce Technology Conference that members of his state’s workforce development, education, training, and employment industries have joined forces to form the California Youth Apprenticeship Coalition (CAYAC). The group will work alongside statewide subject matter experts to build an integrated and universally accessible youth apprenticeship system, potentially open to as many as 500,000 Californians by 2029.

Considered one of the state’s “best kept secrets,” apprenticeships have grown by over 50 percent since 2014. If CAYAC’s plans succeed, the group expects to see California’s apprenticeship pool grow to 750,000, a reduction in student debt by $16 billion, and a decline in youth unemployment by 3 percent.

In Missouri, there are already 500 registered programs, and almost 15,000 active apprenticeships. Through a highly flexible, “earn while you learn” model, the Missouri Registered Apprenticeships program pays more as a worker, or apprentice, reaches higher productivity levels.

In Maryland, the state’s Department of Labor announced their recently approved grant will help the Maryland Apprenticeships and Training Program (MATP) continue their mission, which this year reached a noteworthy accomplishment of 10,000 apprentices statewide. The MATP reported that the number of apprenticeships has increased by 30 percent since 2016.

And, in South Dakota, there are 600 apprentices in 154 programs across the state. They plan to increase these numbers through 2022, especially in key industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, food service, computer science, and information technology.

Employers Stake Their Claim

Many employers have followed suit, rising to the occasion with their own programs. Agricultural machinery giant John Deere launched theirs in July to fill a widespread shortage of service technicians, and Allied Health West recently launched their Registered Medical Assistant Apprenticeship in Oregon, which also employs the “earn-and-learn” model.

To complement this major policy announcement from the USDOL, Geographic Solutions has created the new Registered Apprenticeship Module, which will provide full case management for the employment and training requirements of registered apprenticeship expansion grants. Contact us to learn more

The Next Da Vinci

A critical component in workforce development even in the 21st century, the USDOL’s most recent strategy ensures that apprentices will continue to get their start learning from influential leaders. Future generations will get to see the next Ford, Da Vinci, or McCartney rise from student to teacher.