APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AS A GOOD SOURCE OF LABOR
Apprenticeship programs are occupational training programs that combine on-the-job work experience with technical or classroom study. Such programs are designed to develop useful job skills in individuals entering the work force. These programs, which are designed to address the need for better trained entry-level workers and help young people make the transition from school to the work world, can also serve as a good source of labor for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Many global industries maintain thriving apprenticeship programs. These programs can be found in the skilled trades and crafts, notably in occupations related to the construction industry. Indeed, in many countries such as the US, apprentice programs are required to obtain occupational licensing or certification.
Apprenticeship programs may be sponsored by employers, a group of employers, or a union. Trade and other non-profit organizations also sponsor apprenticeship programs within certain industries. Unions and employers often form joint apprenticeship committees to administer the programs. Such committees are concerned with determining the industry’s particular needs and developing standards for the apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs are usually registered with the federal or state government to ensure that the programs meet standards relating to job duties, instruction, wages, and safety and health conditions.
Individuals who are interested in entering an apprenticeship program must meet certain qualifications. Because of child labor laws in some countries like Nigeria, United States, Canada, India, etc., require applicants to be 16 or 18 years of age. While some states in the US have apprenticeship programs for high school juniors and seniors, most apprenticeship programs require a high school diploma. Other requirements relate to aptitude and physical condition.
Once an individual has been accepted into an apprenticeship program, he or she usually signs an agreement with the program’s sponsor. The agreement covers such matters as the sponsor’s compliance with the program’s standards and the apprentice’s performance of the required work and completion of the necessary studies. While enrolled in the program, the apprentice works under the supervision of a fully qualified journeyperson as a paid, full time employee (apprentices are usually paid about half of what a journeyperson makes). They also receive relevant instruction outside of regular working hours, either in a classroom or through at-home study. The program may last from one to six years, depending on the occupation and other requirements. Certification is usually granted upon successful completion of an apprentice program.
In recent years, growing number of economists and industry experts in some countries have called for the establishment of national apprenticeship programs. Supporters contend that such a program, which would provide apprenticeship training and job skills certification at the national level, would help to reduce the wage gap between college graduates and those who do not attend college, and would nourished better-trained entry-level workers.
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