News

Apprenticeship Emerging as Quality Solution to U.S. Skills Shortages

Posted December 2013

Leaders of US industries and national policy makers are increasingly embracing modern apprenticeship as the most effective solution to urgent challenges facing the US workforce:  On the one hand, employers such as transit agencies can’t find enough young workers with technical skills, leading to vacancies and hiring of retirees from other careers.  On the other, many young people can’t find quality opportunities for technical education in school or broad-based training at work. 

In transit and other industries, apprenticeship is gaining recognition as a way for younger workers to earn while they learn, and for employers and unions to invest in quality training while partnering with K-12 schools and community and technical colleges. 

The evidence for apprenticeship is convincing.  Recent research sponsored by the US Department of Labor shows that apprenticeship is a great investment for the public, for students and for employers:  it pays for itself.  A policy briefing paper by the Transportation Learning Center shows that graduates of registered apprenticeship programs have higher average incomes than graduates of four-year colleges.  The article below tells the story of how young people and employers are benefiting from new manufacturing apprenticeships. 

New transit apprenticeships are emerging from the industry’s program to build standards-based training and comprehensive systems of qualification.  The Center has worked on this program with over 40 agencies and local unions, under the joint sponsorship of APTA and the national transit unions.  The US DOL has approved new transit apprenticeship frameworks for Bus and Rail Vehicle Technicians.  A proposed Transit Elevator-Escalator apprenticeship is under review at DOL, and new apprenticeships should emerge in the future for Signals and Traction Power technicians.  A Center study, Metrics of Success, show how standards-based training in transit pays for itself six times over.

The next step for the industry is implementing these new standards-based systems of training and apprenticeship - coming soon to a transit system near you.  Stay tuned to the Weekly Update (or contact senior manager Mark Dysart) to find out how your agency can begin to develop apprenticeship solutions for your workforce challenges.