Why Your Company Should Become an Apprenticeship Partner

@true2texas

I’m not sure if you know the term Apprenticeship or not. It’s been around for centuries but it wasn’t until last year that I’d heard about it and realized how powerful of an economic development tool this could be within our own organization! There are several reasons why your company should become an Apprenticeship partner and I want to share them with you today!

Introduction
Apprenticeship programs are among the most effective ways to close the skills gap and address unemployment—especially among those who’ve been historically left out of the workforce, like women and people of color. Companies that want to develop a deeper talent pipeline can start by working with intermediaries like CompTIAs’ CityLab Professional to implement apprenticeship programs in communities where jobs are emerging.

I’m not sure if you know the term Apprenticeship or not. It’s been around for centuries but it wasn’t until last year that I’d heard about it and realized how powerful of an economic development tool this could be within our own organization! There are several reasons why your company should become an Apprenticeship partner and I want to share them with you today!

Many businesses are involved in apprenticeship programs, but not all of them know how successful these programs can be—or how important they are to both the business and the individuals in it. As an employer or as an intermediary, you could be involved in an apprenticeship program without even knowing it; this piece provides a basic overview of apprenticeships and explains why they’re beneficial to employers. You’ll also learn about different kinds of apprenticeships and what you can do to become more involved with apprenticeship programs at your company.

Our Mission
CityLab Professional is a nationally-recognized, award-winning provider of professional development, workforce development, and employer engagement programs. We aim to bridge the gap between high schools, universities, and employers by offering meaningful learning opportunities that equip individuals with skills that are highly sought after in today’s job market. Our mission is to help our students become effective communicators and leaders who can transfer these valuable skills into our diverse workplace environments.

How will this help my company?
As a skills training program, apprenticeships can also be cost-effective for companies. According to recent data from CompTIA, on average, new apprentices make up 6 percent of a company’s workforce and cost 4 percent less than new hires. To keep costs low while still expanding your HR team, consider teaming up with other businesses in your industry to take on a bigger workload and combine resources—which is what we did in our first year of bringing apprentices on board.

How does it affect me?
It’s estimated that three-quarters of American jobs will require some form of apprenticeship or postsecondary education by 2027. In order to meet these evolving labor needs, private companies are increasingly stepping in as intermediaries between academia and industry to help guide curricula. While many details about how best to implement a corporate apprenticeship program remain up for debate, there is a strong sense that these relationships can have mutually beneficial outcomes for both students and employers alike.

Who can I talk to about it?
If you’re a business owner, what questions can I answer for you about becoming an apprenticeship partner? If you’re someone interested in working as a technician or moving into a related field, what can I tell you about getting started and taking advantage of new opportunities? If you’re a community member concerned about U.S. manufacturing and training: how can we work together to ensure our future workforce is trained up to compete in today’s global economy?

What does Intermediary mean?
Being an intermediary means we act as a liaison between two parties, like when you act as a go-between for your employer and your customers. But intermediaries aren’t just found in business—anywhere there are people who need to connect with each other, there is probably some kind of intermediary taking action behind-the-scenes to make that happen.

How do I get started?
Start by checking out apprenticeship.gov, where you can learn more about apprenticing in a city near you. Next, contact your local chamber of commerce to find out if they have information on apprenticeships there. If not, you might be able to find some information from U.S. Department of Labor or even your state’s department of labor website. After that, it’s time to get started! All it takes is one phone call or email and you could be well on your way to becoming an apprentice. You just need to ask for help!

Get On Board Now!

Comptia, which is a leading global certification organization that specializes in training and certifying computer technicians and systems professionals, has released a new tool to help companies of all sizes transform their business. The key to growth and competitiveness in today’s workplace? Helping job seekers build skills for 21st century jobs through apprenticeships. Here’s how it works: If you hire an apprentice, your company will receive free training from Comptia—and your apprentice will walk away with industry-recognized credentials.

Who is CityLab Professional?
CityLab Professional is a California Apprenticeship Program and an Intermediary for CompTIA and national certification. We are in 17 California Counties, changing lives and workforce development around Apprenticeships. The Department of Labor has a goal of 5 million apprenticeships by 2030, as they recognize Apprenticeships as a solution to many issues facing American workers. Unemployment rates are higher than ever before for young adults between 16-24 years old and are difficult to find relevant job opportunities within those ages. On top of that, skilled trades have one of the highest unemployment rates in America with even higher numbers for those without a high school diploma. As we work towards our mission of Changing Lives through Apprenticeships we are working on reducing reoffending and recidivism among individuals coming out of county jails.