Apprenticeship training has proven to be an effective method of skill development designed to meet the changing needs of the labour market.

Apprenticeship training provides participants the opportunity to acquire the necessary job skills and trade certification while they maintain gainful employment.

Apprenticeship is:

• An agreement between an individual (employee) who wants to learn a skill, an employer who needs a skilled worker, and the provincial/state government.
• A formal method of learning the skills of a craft or trade from experts in the field by working under their supervision for a set period of time.
• A combination of on-the-job training and in-school technical training.
• The goal of an apprentice is to obtain a certificate of status in a designated trade, a recognized standard of excellence.

Why apprenticeship?

All of the arguments for learning a skilled trade apply to apprenticeship: A skill sets craftworkers apart from other workers, is satisfying and rewarding, and is a marketable asset.

But why learn a trade through apprenticeship instead of through some other method? Among other reasons, apprenticeship gives workers versatility by teaching them all aspects of a trade. It helps them learn to work with different kinds of people in an actual working situation. It familirizes them with the overall picture of a company's operation and organization. Generally, an organized program of apprenticeship can earn graudates recognitiion as skilled workers and can ensure them good jobs with good pay.

A study of apprenticeship graduates and other craftworkers in six US cities concluded that "apprenticeship training gives construction [craftworkers] considerable advantage over those trained by informal means." Apprenticeship graduates in the study were more educated, worked more steadily, learned their trades faster, and were more likely to supervise others than nonapprenticed craftworkers. The same study showed that apprenticeship produced better skilled, more productive, and safer craftworkers.

Apprenticeship training:

• Allows you to earn an income while you learn.
• Exposes you to the latest in technology and trends in your trade.
• Helps you to develop skills for various aspects of your trade.
• Provides job satisfaction and opportunities for career advancement.

NEXT How does apprenticeship work?

PART THREE How do I get started?

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