WORKFORCE PIPELINE A MONTHLY FEATURE ABOUT TRAINING, EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT w Youth Apprenticeship: The Return of the American Dream T
he staggering numbers that defi ne the manufactur- ing industry’s skilled labor shortage are well known. Despite the long-term challenges faced by employers
struggling to fi ll open positions, apprenticeship programs in the United States remain underutilized. In fact, apprentices make up just 0.2% of the total workforce in the US. As a nation, we’ve regrettably and mistakenly devalued
apprenticeship training programs. It’s through apprenticeship training that we change the negative stigma vocational oc- cupations have acquired over the years, and fi ll talent pipelines with experienced and eager candidates. The solution to the skills gap lies in public-private partnerships.
early 2000s the state saw youth unemployment rise and companies struggle to fi nd qualifi ed hires. They took matters into their own hands and in 2007, Apprenticeship Carolina launched. This public-private partnership was developed in co- ordination with area companies and the SC Technical College System, the state’s largest higher education system, to further economic and workforce development in South Carolina. In the beginning, 90 companies in South Carolina offered
apprenticeships. Today, that number has grown to 802 companies, a 790% increase. Apprenticeship Carolina is an example of how apprenticeships can be designed to carve a clear path to a bright future for today’s youth. After MTU relocated from Detroit to Aiken, SC, in 2010, it became clear that while there was access to enough skilled employees to get the plant up and running, there was not enough talent available to support future expansion plans. Facing a staffi ng challenge, MTU turned to its German roots to implement a creative solution to bridge a signifi cant skills gap. In partnership with Apprenticeship Carolina,
MTU apprentices gain valuable skills during their time with MTU such as teamwork and patience, as well as other technical experience that will help in their future careers.
Setting an Example Where apprenticeships are slowly growing in popularity is in manufacturing states throughout the Midwest and Southeast, particularly South Carolina. Manufacturing is the backbone of South Carolina’s economy. No other sector contributes more—whether through tax revenue, job creation, high wages or community support. Despite its economic impact, in the
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MTU registered the fi rst-ever apprenticeship program for high school students in the state. MTU’s program shepherds students through high school graduation as experienced members of the workforce with a solid resume, a promising career path and the confi dence to power the resurgence of US manufacturing.
A Look Inside the Classroom The apprenticeship program gives high school students a
structured and coordinated training system that offers the rare opportunity to earn a wage while gaining extremely market- able work skills, laying the groundwork for their future. The program focuses on building a student’s technical repertoire, but more importantly, it offers an opportunity to learn life-long
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