Glossary

Apprenticeship

Apr 5, 2024

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship in human resources is a combination of on-the-job training and coursework in which workers learn practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprentices work with experienced workers who teach them the necessary skills to become apprentices themselves.

According to the definition of apprenticeship training, it may be sponsored by individual employers, joint employers, and labor groups, and/or employer associations. Joint employer-employee groups may include labor unions or other organizations. Employer associations may include trade associations and other organizations.

How to build an Apprenticeship program?

If you are interested in creating an HR apprenticeship program, here how you can do so:

  1. Employer-based programs. These types of programs are usually sponsored by individual employers who want to create employment opportunities for their employees and meet their own workforce needs. Often these programs are funded by the federal government under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
  2. Joint employer-employee groups or associations. These types of programs can be structured as a «collaborative» effort by several employers working together with a labor organization, such as a union or other representative group of workers, that represents workers from several companies in the same industry. The goal of such programs is to address local labor shortages by increasing training opportunities for workers from other companies in a geographic area where there is high demand for job skills, but not enough skilled workers available locally to fill open positions quickly enough through conventional means such as recruitment advertising.

Benefits of Apprenticeship

Now that you know the meaning of apprenticeship training, you can appreciate its benefits.

An apprenticeship is one of the best ways to attract, train and retain new employees. By training employees in a structured program, your company can create a more skilled workforce trained in the skills you need before they even join the team.

It is also a great way for an employee to gain industry experience without having to pay traditional training costs or time off. When an apprentice completes training and becomes a full member of your team, they will have access to all of your resources and will be able to put their skills into practice on day one.

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