The Future Of Work Needs More Apprentices
Date Posted: April 4, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Workforce,
From Forbes: It’s been an unprecedented time for workforce investments and the future of work. Bills like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHiPs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act all provide much-needed funding to develop the nation’s manufacturing capabilities, boost our climate resilience, and more. But there’s a central question on everyone’s mind: where will we find the workers to fill these jobs? If every person without a job found one tomorrow, there would still be an estimated 3 million open roles to fill.
The White House recently released a playbook that calls on state and local governments to use a solution that has been hiding in plain sight for decades: Apprenticeship, the foundational earn-and-learn model that provides paid on-the-job training that can lead directly to a quality job. Once considered mostly a path for the building trades, today’s apprenticeships are beginning to encompass a wider variety of industries that have notably struggled to fill jobs, including education and health care. Apprenticeships are also demonstrating the potential to prepare workers for the most in-demand jobs of tomorrow in fields like technology, space, and climate resilience.
Apprenticeship is a win-win for learners, workers, employers, and the economy. To make it as effective as it can be, everyone—including employers, policymakers, workforce boards, training providers, community colleges, four-year colleges, K-12 schools, and community-based organizations—has a part to play in boosting its presence. Schools should make a practice of including apprenticeship in their postsecondary recommendations, and apprenticeship providers themselves must ensure they are removing barriers and creating an inclusive experience for the next generation.