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It’s hard not to hear the word “apprenticeship” and think of a time long gone by. For many people, apprenticeships bring to mind images of overworked and undervalued gofers, stuck doing the grunt work in exchange for experience — and if they’re lucky, a small amount of money.

But that picture of apprenticeships isn’t true in today’s workplace. Thanks to US Department of Labor (DOL) efforts, companies in several industries have established apprenticeship programs backed by the US government. 

These programs allow companies to offer workers the chance to learn through first-hand experience and pay apprentices for their work.

How Apprenticeships Work

Apprenticeships certified by the DOL have to meet several requirements that ensure apprentices receive the training opportunities to succeed in a given industry. This requirement includes not only work-based learning but also classroom work and mentorship from experienced workers.

Throughout the apprenticeship program, apprentices receive a competitive wage for their work, making the program valuable and sustainable for the worker. 

The length of the program varies from employer to employer, but at the end of the apprenticeship, the worker will receive an industry-recognized credential that they can use to secure future work.

Apprenticeships Accelerate the Future

During the pandemic, a significant number of workers decided to change career tracks. This shift is especially true of workers who held positions in the service industry, which was hardest hit by the pandemic. 

Rather than return to these jobs, many workers instead gravitated towards areas where they felt they had a better chance of receiving higher wages.

Apprenticeships offer workers the chance to accelerate their reskilling, getting immediate hands-on experience while building a deeper skills base than classroom learning alone can offer. 

Even better, these programs can help apprentices earn higher salaries. According to the DOL, 94% of apprentices who complete their program earn $70,000 per year. 

Apprenticeships in the Construction Industry

As of 2020, many of the jobs with the highest workload in the nation were in the construction industry. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and craft laborers were all high on the list, owing to a dramatic increase in home improvement efforts and the increasingly strong housing market.

Apprenticeships have long been a part of the construction industry, with many contractor certifications requiring a significant number of work hours under the supervision of a credentialed mentor. But with more people moving away from the service sector and towards construction and trade licenses, apprenticeships are more important than ever.

As the post-pandemic recovery continues, apprenticeships will continue to offer a valuable pathway towards career advancement, both for young people and those just entering the industry. 

If you’re considering a job in construction, visit RocketCert to learn what you need to reach the next level of the profession. We offer certification test prep and continuing education courses to help you earn your contractor’s license. 

With our No Pass No Pay guarantee, we’ll make sure you get the licenses certifications you need to get work in the construction industry.