Are Apprenticeship Programs Worth It?

The Nevada Association of Employers helps Nevada businesses navigate HR services and employment-related questions. Our HR professionals can help you optimize your business’s recruitment, selection and retention of employees. There are many types of workers you might want to hire for your business including contractors, consultants, employees, interns and apprentices. In this article we talk about what apprenticeship programs are, how one Nevada business benefits from apprentices and factors to consider when deciding if one of these programs is right for your business.

What Is an Apprenticeship Program?

Apprenticeship programs are popular in trade fields such as welding, plumbing, HVAC and the like, but they also exist in industries such as marketing, agriculture and public service. It’s common for employers to hire apprentices at reduced rates of pay in exchange for professional mentorship and sometimes a future commitment to the business. The rules that govern general apprenticeship programs are often decided by the employer.

In contrast to the general apprenticeship program is the registered apprenticeship program. According to Wikipedia, “Registered Apprenticeship is a program of the United States Department of Labor that connects job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers. Employers, employer associations, and joint labor-management organizations, known collectively as “sponsors”, provide apprentices with paid on-the-job learning and academic instruction that reflects industry needs. The goal of such instruction is to provide workers with advanced skillsets that meet the specific needs of their employers.”

The parameters surrounding registered apprenticeship programs are governed in part by the employer and in part by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Are Nevada Businesses Hiring Apprentices?

In March of 2019, TMCC, JOIN and Tesla partnered to explain the value of apprenticeship programs to Nevada businesses.

In a recent article entitled Apprenticeship Programs to Fill Skilled Jobs Gap, Bob Conrad of ThisisReno wrote, “… Tesla announced its own commitment by sharing a plan to register 50-60 apprentices annually via the partnership. Nevada is expected to have 630,000 open jobs and a shortage of 28,000 middle-skilled workers by 2024.”

The same article went on to say that Tesla cited great work-quality, reduced turn-over and strong work competency with its apprentices.

Are Apprenticeship Programs Right for Your Business?

The Nevada Association of Employers (NAE) can help you identify the pros and cons of investing in an apprenticeship program, whether it be general or registered.

As a businessowner, you need to stay in compliance with employment and labor laws in addition to recruiting, selecting and maintaining a skilled, competent workforce. NAE specializes in these skills and can help guide you.

It’s easy to calculate your membership rate with NAE, and the benefits of membership stretch well beyond employee-hiring guidance.

As a benefit of membership, the Nevada Association of Employers provides you with unlimited access to its HR experts by phone and email to give you on-going and easily accessible support for your HR and employment-related questions and problems.

Do you know all your obligations as a Nevada employer? The Nevada Association of Employers (NAE) is here to help. Our staff of HR professionals is equipped with the knowledge and experience to assist employers in navigating the often-complex world of employment-related statutes and regulations. Contact NAE today!

For more information about NAE and what we do for Nevada employers, visit our website. If you are a Nevada employer interested in membership, please contact membership@nevadaemployers.org or join today!

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