California's multitude of industries/employers voluntarily sponsoring or participating in an apprenticeship program have found that this system of training is efficient and cost effective because it:

• Eliminates the need for expensive recruitment programs for people who are already trained.
• Creates a diversified and flexible work force and a larger pool of employees with specific, needed skills.
• Reduces the cost of high labor turnover; employees show high morale and loyalty when in a training program that offers upward mobility through career development.
• Increases productivity; employees in a structured training program are motivated to achieve.
• Training system is flexible so future work force needed skills are readily attainable.
• Uses available public school facilities for required related theoretical classroom instruction.

The Building and Construction Industry has traditionally utilized the apprenticeship system of training, i.e plumber, carpenter, electrician, in meeting its needed skilled work force. However, over the years many other California industries/employers whom have voluntarily implemented apprenticeship training programs, from manufacturing to health care, discovered the value of utilizing this system, and have incorporated apprenticeship into their workforce development strategy. Today individuals are being trained through apprenticeship in occupations, such as, culinarian, correctional officer, vocational nurse, nurse, firefighter, machinist, hazardous waste technician, hydroelectric machinery mechanic, automobile mechanic, geriatric specialist, and precision metal fabricator.

The Governor on April 28, 1995 approved the School to Career Plan developed by the School-to-Career Task Force included apprenticeship as a possible viable option to be considered as a part of California's school-to-career system. The CAC/DAS has been working on developing a strategy and a system that would make apprenticeship opportunities available to students while in high school.

Back to DIR Menu