Workforce Wednesday: What’s next for your career? Consider apprenticeship

Do you desire to strengthen your skills and advance your career, but don’t want to incur the debt that often comes with attending college? Are you having a hard time trying to figure out your next career step? If so, an apprenticeship program may be right for you.

An apprenticeship is a paid job from day one. Apprentices gain knowledge from on-the-job training, mentorship, and related classroom instruction. Graduates receive an industry-recognized credential and, on average, earn an average starting salary of $60,000 per year. 

• Paid Job – Earn a competitive wage from day one.
• Education – Gain knowledge from on-the-job learning and job-related classroom training.
• Credentials – Receive a portable credential within your industry.

Apprenticeship programs prepare individuals for in-demand jobs. They equip career seekers with the necessary skills needed to compete in today’s job market. Finding a job in this current economic climate can be rough, but 91% of apprentices remain with their employer following the apprenticeship program going on to advance in their careers.

If you still aren’t certain that apprenticeship is right for you, you can explore the many types of apprenticeship programs available in Philadelphia by downloading this Apprenticeship Guidebook compiled by Philadelphia City Councilmember At-Large Katherine Gilmore Richardson. In this guide, you will find over 25 pages of detailed information about apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs, industry descriptions, application processes, minimum qualifications, salary data, and more.   

If you don’t need time to explore and are ready to start an apprenticeship program now, there are many ways to participate in apprenticeship opportunities in the Philadelphia region. Apprenticeship programs are constantly recruiting for a wide range of positions in a variety of industries. Skilled building trades, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and even early childhood education are just some of the industries where apprenticeship programs operate. In fact, there are over 533,000 apprenticeships available in more than 1000 occupations nationwide. The possibilities are endless. Check out upcoming opportunities for enrollment by visiting pacareerlinkphl.org/training/. 

 

Additional resources for women interested in the trades:

If you are woman interested in learning more about a career in the trades, the Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) Project is a Philadelphia regional collaboration to support, increase and advance the participation of women in construction, manufacturing, and transit careers. Learn more at wincproject.org.

 

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