Apprenticeship News

This page is a Palomar College initiative to inform potential apprenticeship students about apprenticeship news in the United States.  Scroll down to view all apprenticeship related news. 


MAAC and Palomar College team up to train the next generation of teachers

Published | May 9, 2023

San Diego’s child care industry continues to struggle after being hit hard during COVID-19. Centers are still closing, and those that remain open are having a hard time finding staff. To help with that shortage, the nonprofit MAAC and Palomar College have teamed up on a new program that will train more child care providers.

The apprenticeship program will be open to 25 participants for the pilot class and will last two years.

MAAC, which provides child development and early education programs in San Diego, has 40 locations spread throughout the county that provide child care, so they’re feeling the staffing shortages firsthand, MAAC CEO Arnulfo Manriquez said.

“We are in a teacher shortage, not just our organization but most preschools throughout the county, actually the state of California,” Manriquez said. “So it is important for us to begin to find the next generation of teachers that are going to come into our programs that can grow in the career pathways of education.”

teacher and three preschool-aged children working on puzzles at a child-height table
Read the entire article here.

Electrician Shortage Prompts Response from Local Company

Published | June 15, 2019

By 2026, the electrician industry is expected to face a labor shortage of 60,000 workers. As a result, a local company of tool manufacturing created a program to market electrician jobs to students. Programs such as these provide future students with alternative opportunities in which they don’t accumulate debt as they finish their education. Once students complete a program as an electrician, they can expect a starting salary of about $40,000 per year.

Electrician in the field

To read more about this story, go here. 


Keeping the California Dream Through New Apprenticeship Programs

Published | January 28, 2019

California’s middle-class is struggling with high levels of income disparity and diminishing opportunities. In addition to that, California is experiencing a disconnect between the skillsets of the states workforce and the needs of the local industries which have created a skills gap that predicts a shortfall of 1.1 million workers by 2030.

To address these issues, California has passed Assembly Bill 235 (AB 235) to create pathways through apprenticeships in emerging industries and occupations. Industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and Information Technology will start seeing apprenticeship programs that will create a highly trained supply of workers and give opportunities to those workers who struggle to complete more traditional forms of education.  In addition to new apprenticeships in nontraditional industries, the bill relies on the formation of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships (IACA) (under the supervision of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards), to provide guidance over these new apprenticeship programs.

This new initiative aims to maintain the California dream through apprenticeships!  Read more HERE.


How To Support Parents Throughout Their Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Published | November 26, 2018

According to WorkforceGPS, a third of the workforce in the US is composed of parents. For parents, finding child care that is reliable and affordable is one of the more difficult aspects of being a parent. Often times this predicament becomes a barrier for parents who are interested in participating in unpaid programs such as pre-apprenticeships.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are known help job seekers obtain adequate industry experience such as skills training, exposure to job sites and engagement with industry leaders. Thus, pre-apprenticeship programs can be  beneficial to parents who historically have had less access to apprenticeships with the majority being mothers.

Since childcare can become a barrier for parents who are interested in participating in a pre-apprenticeship program, it is important for pre-apprenticeships to provide childcare in their programs. In doing so, not only will it diversify the workforce, but will provide opportunities to people who might have not considered a pre-apprenticeship program.

Source: https://careerpathways.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/08/27/15/04/Want-women-apprentices-The-answer-is-child-care


National Apprenticeship Week this November 12-18, 2018!

Published | October 16, 2018

National Apprenticeship Week is an initiative by WorkforceGPS to bring awareness to apprenticeship programs by offering registered apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities and apprentices. This week also gives employers, education, industry associations, labor, elected officials and other partners the opportunity to highlight how registered apprenticeships meet their needs for a skilled workforce.

Apprenticeship play a significant role in developing the workforce to help small and large businesses grow their business and gives career seekers the change to earn while they learn.


Why Apprenticeships Work for Students and Businesses

Published | August 23, 2018

Apprenticeships are one of the best ways for job seekers to gain skills and knowledge of a particular career, and also can help them gain access into certain industries as well.  One of the largest investments are being made by businesses who put an emphasis on hiring and mentoring apprentices.  The return on investment is large, as employers can gain advantage from the many benefits of state-approved apprenticeship programs.  For example, A recent study by Case Western Reserve University indicated that one company they profiled obtains at least a 50 percent rate of return on its apprenticeship program, compared to hiring machinists off the street. thedaily.case.edu/apprenticeships-worthinvestment

Here are some other fast facts from ApprenticeshipUSA’s Toolkit:
  • The return on investment for a registered apprenticeship program is $1.46 for every $1 invested in an apprentice.  caf-fca.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/08/Advantage_ROTI.pdf
  • Over 70% of 2016 college graduates plan on leaving their job within the first three years while registered apprenticeship has a demonstrated 89% three-year retention rate. Moreover, 91% of apprentices retain employment after the conclusion of the apprenticeship program.
  • Apprenticeship graduates also earn over the course of their careers $300,000 more on average in wages and benefits than their peers who do not participate in a Registered Apprenticeship. (An Effectiveness Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Registered Apprenticeship in 10 States. 2012.) www.mathematicampr.com/~/media/publications/PDFs/labor/registered_apprenticeship_10states.pdf
  • Apprentices who completed their apprenticeships stay with the company to become employees in over 90% of reported cases. This retention rate is an incredible competitive advantage in a limited labor market, with an average starting wage of over $60,000 per year. (This data was obtained from the Common Reporting Information System and the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System.)
  • Dollar for dollar, no workforce training method packs as much punch as apprenticeship. A 2012 Mathematica evaluation of 10 States found that for every dollar invested in Apprenticeship, the tax returns (return on investment) were $27 and total benefits were more than $35. (Reed, D. et. al. July 25, 2012). An effectiveness assessment and cost-benefit analysis of Registered Apprenticeship in 10 States.) wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_10.pdf

What’s Causing Money Problems for Millennial’s?

Published | June 20, 2018

Many young adults struggle with college debt and low-paying jobs, additionally most young adults work for smaller paychecks, are less likely to own a home and are not saving enough for their retirement.

Although on average, college grads make more money than those without a degree, many of these graduates are left with more debt. Additionally, most of these young adults started their careers during the recession in 2008-2009, which led to many taking lower-paying jobs. This makes it hard for these young adults to move up in their career and get pay raises.

According to Paul Traub, senior business economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, a person starting work in 2010 saw much slower growth in disposable income compared to someone who started working in the 1980s or 1990s. Ultimately, young adults today have a better standard of living, but are not experiencing the same opportunities seen from earlier generations.

Much of this can be attributed to a lack of wage growth partly because of structural changes in the economy such as job automation and outsourcing to lower-wage countries.

Although a college degree is still sough-after, it is not the only option available to young adults after graduating from high school. Since the construction industry has seen a boom in jobs (and will continue to see job growth) a labor gap as drawn many initiatives to get workers trained in the construction trade. Apprenticeship programs are great for students who want a career but cannot afford the debt that comes with completing a college degree. Additionally, many apprenticeship programs follow a “earn while you learn” model, which allows apprentices to earn livable wages during and after completing the program.


Launch Your Career in Construction with a Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Published | May 17, 2018

The California Community College (CCC) Center of Excellence has identified the construction industry has one of the 10 fastest growing industries in San Diego County. This, along with recent legislation in California that requires contractors involved in public construction to utilize workers from graduates of approved California Apprenticeship programs – demonstrates that there is a higher need for workers that have completed and graduated from a California Apprenticeship Program.

In order to successfully graduate a California Apprenticeship Program, students must have a good foundation in math knowledge, have developed soft skills and know what it takes to successfully go through an apprenticeship program.

Graduates from California Apprenticeship Programs can expect to become Journeymen and earn a livable wage while they enjoy a stable career in the construction trade. Carpenters, Electricians and Sheet Metal Workers, for example, make a median hourly wage of $22.35, $30.69 and $27.03, respectively.

A pre-apprenticeship program is a good option for students who are interested in starting a career in construction and gaining work experience in the field. Apart from students learning the tools of the trade, students can expect to work in a construction setting further preparing them for the demands of an apprenticeship program. Students who go through a pre-apprenticeship program have a high rate of course completion and have a better chance of completing an apprenticeship program.

Palomar College’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program will give students the necessary tools so that they can enter into a state-approved apprenticeship and graduate. Additionally, Palomar College’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program, along with partnering schools, will provide support services such as counseling, tutoring, study skill sessions, career counseling and more services for all enrolled students.