Apprenticeships, an ideal means to train future workers, have been around for centuries. Yet today, the apprenticeship model often doesn't come to mind when people think about preparing for a career or when employers want to develop skilled workers. That mindset is beginning to change---- and not a moment too soon. The labor force, especially in the construction and electrical trades, is facing a worker shortage with baby boomers retiring. At the same time, our city, state and national infrastructures are in need of repair.

Apprenticeships are not found just in traditional labor trades. In June 2015, Governor Jerry Brown earmarked $15 million for new apprenticeship programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and renewable energy. Nearly $37 million of the state's 2015 budget went to apprenticeships. Nationally, businesses like CVS, Time Warner Cable, and Zurich N.A. insurance are using this flexible model to address employer needs and develop a pipeline of trained employees. To qualify for state and federal assistance to help fund an apprenticeship programs, businesses must register with the state of California through the Department of Apprenticeship Standards.

Offering apprenticeships is smart business. Apprentices become highly skilled in their fields. They are productive and motivated. In fact, the Department of Labor cites studies which indicate that for every dollar spent on an apprenticeship, employers receive an average of $1.47 back in increased worker productivity. For information about creating an apprenticeship program at your business and the grant application process, go to the California Department of Apprenticeship Standards website, or the Workforce Development Board.