continued on page 18 jobs since October 2019. These numbers tell us Utah jobs are growing more than before the pandemic, but participation levels are less than pre-pandemic. Many people have shifted career paths, or some are reluctant to enter the job market again. This shortage of potential skilled workers does not help businesses deal with the current skilled labor shortages. How can the state help businesses meet the current shortfall of skilled workers? Apprenticeships can be a good tool business owners can add to their repertoire of recruitment and retention strategies. Apprentices benefit by being trained for work, getting paid, and ending with nationally-recognized credentials. The state launched Apprenticeship Utah, an initiative through the Department of Workforce Services designed to increase awareness and participation in apprenticeship programs by employers and future apprentices. Utah’s first comprehensive website, apprenticeship.utah.gov, connects employers who offer apprenticeships with potential employees. Melisa Stark, Commissioner of Apprenticeship Programs in Utah, participated in a seminar about the program held Nov. 16, 2021, during the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). The information in this article is from her presentation and the program’s website. Apprenticeships are a tried-and-true training system combining paid on-the-job learning with formal classroom instruction. On-the-job learning is done at the same time as post-secondary education. Hiring an apprentice allows apprentices to prepare themselves for highly-skilled careers more quickly than would be possible otherwise. Everyone wins. Thanks partially to the pandemic, apprenticeship programs have increased throughout the country because they allow employers to find and train employees for highly skilled work. The number of programs nationally has increased 70% over the last 10 years. There are now almost 26,000 programs with more than 636,000 apprentices training throughout the country. Additionally, the retention rate for employees who complete their program is 92%. After program completion, the average wage for employees is $60,000 per year. Apprentices earn $300,000 or more during their careers than those who don’t participate in an apprenticeship program. The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes approximately 1,200 occupations as suitable for an apprenticeship. And Utah has seen a 25% growth rate in the last year for youth apprenticeships (for people ages 18-24). Utah already offers apprenticeships in many industries. Although most people think of construction apprenticeships, they also work for other industries, including I.T. and health care. Common elements are found in high-quality programs, such as the apprentice is paid to learn in a structured, on-thejob setting. A skilled employee teaches the apprentice, and the program includes related information presented in class. 17
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