IWSI America

Institute for WorkPlace Skills & Innovation America

Articles

How Modern Apprenticeships Are Preparing Us For The Future of Work

Oddly enough, in the midst of record expansion, low unemployment, tightening labor markets and record profit share and stock market prices, the U.S. is facing a fundamental challenge to its economic prosperity. Employers are coming up short with the skills they need to be fully competitive, productive and meet long–term goals. Employers are having difficulty filling new jobs with qualified people who have both relevant skills and workplace experience. Many communities cannot attract or retain businesses because of a mismatch between the skills employers need and skills locals have.

The traditional approaches used to cultivate talent, in either school or on the job, are out of sync with evolving employer needs. The rapidly changing nature of work is requiring businesses to reevaluate and become more creative about their recruitment, hiring, and talent development strategies. People need to rethink their post-secondary and school-to-work options. Whether someone has a high school diploma or college degree, the school-to-work transition has become extremely challenging for many. School, alone, often does not prepare individuals for today’s workplace. It’s time to embrace a modern approach to workforce development, that can nurture a person’s calling, equip them with both the technical and interpersonal skills employers need today and prepare them for lifelong learning and success. In turn, we strengthen businesses, strengthen local and regional communities and strengthen our economy.

One Solution: Modern Apprenticeships

A new report It’s Time. Using Modern Apprenticeship to Reskill America highlights the vital role of Modern Apprenticeship. And demonstrates its role as a a work-based training program designed to prepare individuals of any age with the skills businesses need to set them on a clear pathway to employment and long-term career success.

Modern Apprenticeships are available in a broad range of 21st-century industries and occupations from cybersecurity, healthcare, and data analytics to hospitality management, green sciences, engineering and advanced manufacturing. In those fields, the level of skills ranges greatly from mid-level to high, depending on the occupation.

Small-, medium- and large-size companies are using Modern Apprenticeship to ramp up their workforce. Examples of companies now investing in Modern Apprenticeship include LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon and Mailchimp.

Key components of Modern Apprenticeships include:

• customized classroom and on-the-job training at reduced or no cost,
• opportunity to earn while learning and working,
• nationally recognized industry credentials or specialized certification for registered programs,
• potential college credit leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Modern Apprenticeships are flexible and can follow a variety of career trajectories, whether someone is a recent high school graduate, college graduate, military veteran or mid-career adult.

These modern programs require an initial investment of time and money, but lead to a substantial return on investment in areas such as improving companies’ overall performance;
earning while learning; increasing employee loyalty, engagement and productivity, reducing turnover; and diversifying the workplace.

Most apprentices earn while they learn, and move directly into employment upon program completion, much of the time free of student debt.

The time is now

The momentum for Modern Apprenticeships is building and the time is right for all industries and sectors to seize the opportunity to grow their business, diversity their workforce and establish a workplace with high-quality talent. State and local government should consider how policies, systems and investments can best support the development of their workforce pipeline to ensure a bright future for individuals, communities and the local economy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are available to private sector employers, local and state governments and nonprofits to initiate or ramp up Modern Apprenticeships.

Download the Report

Building Tomorrow’s Naval Fleet And Future Career Success – Forbes

Forbes
The 680-metric ton lower bow unit was joined to the other keel sections that comprise the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) today. It is one of the heaviest superlifts to be placed on the ship.
(Photo by Ricky Thompson)

| by Nicholas Wyman | Forbes.com |

Just 11% of would-be students are accepted into this school. Sounds like one of America’s most selective colleges, doesn’t it?

It’s not actually that new either. This year, the school celebrates its first century and it’s produced more than 10,000 highly skilled graduates so far. None of them carry a debt. While they were studying, each student pocketed full-time pay and comprehensive benefits.

This year, for example, around 850 students are enrolled, and their hourly rate is approaching eighteen dollars an hour for both work and classroom hours.

Sounds like this is only for school leavers? Not so fast. It’s much broader than that. Take one of its current students – former history teacher Osman Erdogan. He emigrated from Turkey to the U.S. in 2000. Then he had two goals: to find secure employment and further his education. He started working at his brother’s ship repair company in Virginia and enrolled in ESL classes at a local community college. In his spare time, Osman toured area museums and was drawn to U.S. maritime history exhibits.

In 2011, Osman was hired as a contractor at Newport News Industrial (NNI) Shipbuilding, a subdivision of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). After a few years of hard yards, he became a salaried employee. By chance, he saw a booklet in the staff room advertising night school.

Osman says: “It had so many classes that I was interested in like ship design and systems, shipyard operations, mechanical drawing and architecture. I wanted to sign up on the dotted line then and there to take all of the classes. I was so hungry to learn.” 

He got in. Before long, Osman’s mechanical drawing teacher noticed his dedication and passion for learning and encouraged Osman to enroll at HII’s Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding.

You’d be forgiven for not knowing about this dynamic tough-to-get-into school. HII is the largest military shipbuilder in America. Since its inception, the skills taught at its Apprentice School have continued to evolve along with technological advances in the industry. New recruits are working with master shipbuilders to build an all-digital U.S. Navy fleet. Designers and engineers are working on the first-ever all-digital, paperless build of the USS Enterprise, the U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carrier.

Stan Best, the School’s resident historian, training manager, and instructor of Business and Communications, says: “Back in 1945, out in Los Alamos, they exploded the first atomic bomb. Within 15 years, we were building ships that run on nuclear power.

“So, my job as an educator is to prepare my apprentices for a form of technology that I don’t know exists right now. You cannot sit on what you’ve learned today.” 

Stan, who joined the program as an apprentice in 1985, admits he was initially apprehensive.

“When I was in high school, if you would have told me I was going to The Apprentice School, I would have thought that was a loss. I was afraid that it would pigeonhole me and reduce my opportunities for continuing my education.” He’s not alone there. This is a common misconception among students and parents, especially when traditional college is pushed as the only path to success and financial security. But Stan’s fears of reduced opportunities proved unfounded. He went through HII’s Apprentice School qualifying in 1988, became a shipboard electrician then a nuclear test engineer. Further apprenticeship training led him to a 15-year career as a test engineer. Stan’s education didn’t stop there. While testing reactors, he got associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees – all tuition-free, thanks to Newport News Shipbuilding’s tuition reimbursement program. He started teaching at the School in 2004.

“I figured it was my duty to give back a little bit,” he says. “The apprentice school has opened up a window of education for me and an opportunity for me to be a lifelong learner.”

One of his students is Osman, now a married father of twins, and in his second year of training for pipefitting. He says he’s optimistic about his family’s future and thrilled about the doors that apprenticeship has opened for him.

“As a person that came from a thousand miles away with a broken accent, I found that if you work hard and show honesty, sincerity and integrity, you can succeed here. I never feel any discrimination at work or at school. My coworkers are so friendly, so helpful. I consider myself a very lucky person.

“I tell my young peers here that they don’t know how lucky they are. I tried to study my whole life, but there was always some obstacle I had to overcome. What can be better than someone offering you a job and free school? I didn’t know that such a program existed in the world. I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I had to take it.”

The Apprentice School is just one form of modern apprenticeship on offer in America. There’s got to be one out there that’s a perfect fit for you. What path will give you traction to a great career or two?

View on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholaswyman/2019/07/16/building-tomorrows-naval-fleet-and-future-career-success/3/#2fe28602f167

‘Millennials: You Can Afford To Change Your Career Even With Student Debt’ – Forbes

Let’s not let history repeat itself.

Looking back at the school-to-work transition for Millennials, many were given a promise. They were told that if they got a college education, they would exit into a sea of job opportunities. All they’d have to do is pick one and from there, enjoy rewarding work and a long, successful career. A decent salary would support a comfortable lifestyle and, in a reasonable amount of time, dissolve their student debt.

We failed them.

Many Millennials did their part. They went to college and got their “golden ticket,” only to find that in the light of day, their degree didn’t take them very far. Meanwhile, degree or not, there was the debt.

But it’s not too late for Millennials to find meaningful, well-paying work. And many want to move on from their current positions. According to the 2019 Deloitte Global Millennial Survey, “more Millennials than we have ever surveyed—49 percent—would, if they had a choice, quit their current jobs in the next two years.” This number, very close to one-half of the almost 13,500 Millennials responding to Deloitte, is a reflection of the instability of today’s workforce.

Modern Apprenticeship offers opportunities for Millennials as well as those just entering the workforce. And bodes well for employers – reduced turnover and increased employee loyalty are hallmarks of this skills-building model.

Options exist to find meaningful, well-paying work.
Getty

Modern Apprenticeship is a customized workforce development framework that blends classroom learning and work-based training to prepare individuals of any age to meet sophisticated skills needs. Equally important, Modern Apprenticeship:

  • Produces pipelines of well-prepared workers from the ground up and can also move existing employees further along in the ranks.
  • Applies to almost any industry, from technology and engineering to advanced manufacturing, health care and finance.
  • Is in sync with Millennials’ philosophical approach to the world of work, including innovation and creative problem-solving, making a positive impact, and emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

The American Staffing Association’s Workforce Monitor reports that Millennials are particularly open to apprenticeships. A majority (54%) says it is likely to consider these learning opportunities in the next two years—significantly more than any other age group.

Depending on the source, the oldest of Millennials are now approaching 40. Many would love to make a shift into more meaningful work, but they believe it’s too late. They wonder if they have the right skills to make the transition and are able to keep up with the technical competencies and soft skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. In Deloitte’s Millennial report, only about one in five respondents believe they are prepared for the future of work in Industry 4.0. In fact, “70 percent said they may only have some or few of the skills required and will need to evolve their own capabilities to increase their value.”

Millenials also feel stuck in place, saddled with earlier college debt alongside day-to-day living expenses. How can they possibly start over?

For millennials, however, Modern Apprenticeship brings good news.

  • Apprentices earn while they learn, and typically move into lucrative employment upon program completion.
  • Much of the time, they graduate without additional student debt.
  • Professional mentors play a critical role, helping Millennials feel “caught up” with the modern workplace — from practical job skills to essential team building, communications and critical thinking skills.
  • Many also achieve a highly regarded industry credential and associate degree during their Modern Apprenticeship.

Employers win with Modern Apprenticeship, too. Not only does Modern Apprenticeship go hand-in-hand with strong employee loyalty and retention, but also a company-specific skill set is an invaluable component.

For many Millennials, post-college reality has not matched with the fairy tale offered by older generations. But all is not lost. People in all stages of working life can find opportunity in Modern Apprenticeship. It’s a solid, substantial, no nonsense pathway to a better life.

Read this and similar articles on Forbes

About the Author

Nicholas Wyman

I’m the CEO of IWSI America which is a global enterprise, committed to skills and workforce development in today and tomorrow’s workplace.
I have spent the last 20 years, consulting, writing, speaking and leading the conversation toward helping organizations and individuals map a pathway to a more secure and prosperous future. I am the author of Job U: How to Find Wealth and Success by Developing the Skills Companies Actually Need. I am a Winston Churchill Fellow, hold an MBA and have studied at Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government.

Leading by Example: Public Sector Apprenticeships in Kentucky

By Robert I. Lerman, John Marotta and Myca San Miguel.

While the US government sector employs about 15 percent of nonfarm workers, federal, state, and local governments have not made substantial use of apprenticeships to enhance the skills of their workforce, increase productivity, and widen access to government positions. This report examines steps undertaken by Kentucky to build talent for state government through apprenticeship.

The early outcomes are promising: departments can adopt and register apprenticeships quickly, employers are pleased with the productive contributions of apprentices, and apprentices recognize they are gaining valuable skills. The success of departments adopting apprenticeships bodes well for the expansion to other areas.

Download PDF

‘A modern take on apprenticeships is working for businesses’ – HRDive, Online

Dive Brief:

  • Employers are finding success with modern apprenticeships, according to a new report from Institute for WorkPlace Skills & Innovation America (IWSI).
  • With U.S. employers reporting challenges finding skilled workers, many are adopting programs that combine classroom learning and on-the-job training. Employers such as Mailchimp, Adobe and CVS Health have demonstrated the effectiveness and versatility of apprenticeships in, health care, cybersecurity, engineering and more, according to the report.
  • Workers seem to be benefiting as well: The average starting wage for apprentices is more than $60,000, IWSI said, and apprentices mostly complete programs debt-free.

Dive Insight:

A majority of adults believe an apprenticeship program has a better chance of landing them a job than a four-year degree, a recent American Staffing Association survey revealed. And based on IWSI’s report, they may be on to something. From the food industry to insurance, apprentice programs are emerging as a way to train employees and generate a talent pipeline.

Apprenticeships are nothing new, of course, but businesses today are looking past the traditional trade-oriented offerings to develop programs in unexpected disciplines, like cybersecurity. Employers are increasingly developing structured, work-based learning programs.

Apprenticeships are seeing a push from the Trump administration, too, with funding and discussion groups planning initiatives to update these avenues to employment.

View Original Article on HRDive