Apprenticeships:
Is this the cure for many unfilled jobs? ©2015
With no exaggeration, American businesses have thousands of jobs that are unfilled. Business leaders keep telling us these jobs are unfilled because they simply can’t find enough qualified people to fill the jobs.
In this nation’s history, previous generations of American businesses didn’t that just sit back and talk about jobs they couldn’t fill due to a so-called skills gap. No. They took the initiative, and they started apprenticeships to teach workers necessary skills. But American businesses today seem to lack that committment though they are sitting on huge cash reserves.
American businesses once believed in the American worker. They formed partnerships with schools, and they would train workers for highly skilled jobs. Sometimes, businesses worked with unions, or sometimes they trained their workers independent of unions. But they got it done.
Apprenticeships used to be the main means to train skilled workers in this country. Today, American businesses have all but abandoned apprenticeship programs at a time when it claims it really needs more skilled workers.
The good thing about apprenticeships is that they can be adapted to fit just about any industry.
What we need in this country is a combination of government incentives, consumer demand, and the political will to make apprenticeships a bigger part in our economy.
To his credit, President Barack Obama recently announced a new $100 million grant program to support the development of innovative apprenticeship programs across the country. It’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start. Pres. Obama also wants to double the number of apprenticeships in the United States over the next five years, and has called for a $2 billion incentive.
In addition, Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) have also introduced legislation that would provide a $1,000 tax credit for companies that sponsor apprentices.
Apprenticeships could help thousands of Americans, our people, African Americans. Our young and not-so-young people would have an opportunity to learn a quality skill and live the American dream. To get into apprenticeships, however, it would be imperative that our people do well in school to take advantage of apprentice opportunities. The benefits are certainly worth it.
In a recent article, Ben Olinsky and Sarah Ayres Steinberg wrote:
“Expanding the U.S. apprenticeship system would help strengthen our economy, as research shows that the United States is not producing enough skilled workers to meet our future economic needs.
“By 2020, America is projected to experience a shortage of 3 million workers with associate’s degrees or higher and 5 million workers with technical certificates and credentials. Compounding our inadequate workforce development system, research shows that employers are now spending less on training than they have in the past. At the same time, industry surveys show that a lack of qualified workers is a top concern for many employers.
Right now, the United States is falling short in apprenticeships and even lags many smaller countries with smaller economies: look at recent apprenticeship participation in the following countries:
• United States—358,000 (in 2012)
• France-1.4 million
• Scotland-1.5 million
• Germany-3 million
• England-3 million
• Switzerland-3.1 million
Black leadership and black organizations, as well as others, would be wise if they contacted their representatives and asked them to fight for more apprenticeships. We have enormous political muscle. Let’s use it. Let’s use it to advocate for more job training and apprentice programs, in particular. With yet another incentive to do well in school, our people can get the skills that will lead to a better life and a better community.
Despite the existence of a formal registered apprenticeship system in the United States, the training model is not widely used or understood by American workers or businesses. America had 358,000 active registered apprentices in 2012—only 7 percent of the number of apprenticeships in England when adjusting for population size. Apprenticeships are also a key conduit for many German and Swiss young adults to enter the workforce.
If we are going to protest and petition government officials, let it be for apprentice and training programs. These programs could provide skills and raise our standard of living for generations to come.
As James Brown once sang, “I don’t won’t nobody to give me nothing, open up the door, and I’ll get it myself.”
Is this the cure for many unfilled jobs? ©2015
With no exaggeration, American businesses have thousands of jobs that are unfilled. Business leaders keep telling us these jobs are unfilled because they simply can’t find enough qualified people to fill the jobs.
In this nation’s history, previous generations of American businesses didn’t that just sit back and talk about jobs they couldn’t fill due to a so-called skills gap. No. They took the initiative, and they started apprenticeships to teach workers necessary skills. But American businesses today seem to lack that committment though they are sitting on huge cash reserves.
American businesses once believed in the American worker. They formed partnerships with schools, and they would train workers for highly skilled jobs. Sometimes, businesses worked with unions, or sometimes they trained their workers independent of unions. But they got it done.
Apprenticeships used to be the main means to train skilled workers in this country. Today, American businesses have all but abandoned apprenticeship programs at a time when it claims it really needs more skilled workers.
The good thing about apprenticeships is that they can be adapted to fit just about any industry.
What we need in this country is a combination of government incentives, consumer demand, and the political will to make apprenticeships a bigger part in our economy.
To his credit, President Barack Obama recently announced a new $100 million grant program to support the development of innovative apprenticeship programs across the country. It’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start. Pres. Obama also wants to double the number of apprenticeships in the United States over the next five years, and has called for a $2 billion incentive.
In addition, Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) have also introduced legislation that would provide a $1,000 tax credit for companies that sponsor apprentices.
Apprenticeships could help thousands of Americans, our people, African Americans. Our young and not-so-young people would have an opportunity to learn a quality skill and live the American dream. To get into apprenticeships, however, it would be imperative that our people do well in school to take advantage of apprentice opportunities. The benefits are certainly worth it.
In a recent article, Ben Olinsky and Sarah Ayres Steinberg wrote:
“Expanding the U.S. apprenticeship system would help strengthen our economy, as research shows that the United States is not producing enough skilled workers to meet our future economic needs.
“By 2020, America is projected to experience a shortage of 3 million workers with associate’s degrees or higher and 5 million workers with technical certificates and credentials. Compounding our inadequate workforce development system, research shows that employers are now spending less on training than they have in the past. At the same time, industry surveys show that a lack of qualified workers is a top concern for many employers.
Right now, the United States is falling short in apprenticeships and even lags many smaller countries with smaller economies: look at recent apprenticeship participation in the following countries:
• United States—358,000 (in 2012)
• France-1.4 million
• Scotland-1.5 million
• Germany-3 million
• England-3 million
• Switzerland-3.1 million
Black leadership and black organizations, as well as others, would be wise if they contacted their representatives and asked them to fight for more apprenticeships. We have enormous political muscle. Let’s use it. Let’s use it to advocate for more job training and apprentice programs, in particular. With yet another incentive to do well in school, our people can get the skills that will lead to a better life and a better community.
Despite the existence of a formal registered apprenticeship system in the United States, the training model is not widely used or understood by American workers or businesses. America had 358,000 active registered apprentices in 2012—only 7 percent of the number of apprenticeships in England when adjusting for population size. Apprenticeships are also a key conduit for many German and Swiss young adults to enter the workforce.
If we are going to protest and petition government officials, let it be for apprentice and training programs. These programs could provide skills and raise our standard of living for generations to come.
As James Brown once sang, “I don’t won’t nobody to give me nothing, open up the door, and I’ll get it myself.”