Apprenticeship Myth Buster

Myth: Apprenticeships are good only for traditional trades such as construction careers. Not true: Apprenticeships are a proud American tradition that have been instrumental to the nation's economic success for generations. But just as it has traditionally been used for trades such as construction or plumbing, the apprenticeship training model also works for new and emerging industries like health care, information technology and advanced manufacturing. Last year, more than 13,000 apprentices were employed in these industries. The fact is, apprenticeships are a tried-and-true workforce development strategy globally, but for too long they have been underutilized and undervalued in the United States. That's why President Obama's latest budget request calls for a $2 billion investment to double the number of Registered Apprenticeships over the next 5 years by working with employers in a variety of industries. The secret is getting out — employers who use apprenticeship programs know that their workforce is more prepared, productive and better trained than their competition. It improves their bottom line and gives their company a competitive advantage. • Learn About Registered Apprenticeship • Read the Apprenticeship 101 Blog • Read the Budget Blog