If you know any high school seniors graduating this spring, you might talk to them about the other four-year degree: apprenticeship. Careers in construction, maritime and other trades offer high-wage, high-skill futures. And with the fast approaching retirement of so many current construction, maritime and trades workers, opportunities for the newly enrolled apprentices will increase over the next few years.

Apprenticeship’s origins can be traced back to the “craft guilds” of the 12th Century.  It is a legally binding agreement between an apprentice and a sponsor that combines paid on-the-job training under supervision of a journey-level worker and a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction per year. Most apprenticeship programs take from three to five years to complete. An apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program, with starting hourly wages around $11 an hour, with benefits. For those not quite ready for a full apprenticeship, there are also pre-apprenticeship programs offered in some areas.

Our state has more than 300 occupations with apprenticeship standards, but the largest single group of apprentices work in the unionized building and construction trades. The most successful programs are jointly funded and administered by employers and unions through a JATC, a Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. Students should be wary of so-called “apprenticeships” that are set up merely to provide low-wage workers. Legitimate apprenticeship programs are registered with the State of Washington. In fact, for all kinds of information on different programs check out the Department of Labor and Industries website at www.lni.wa.gov/scs/apprenticeship/. (Another source of information is http://apprenticeship.wa.gov.)

Applicants for construction apprenticeship programs are often encouraged to have good physical abilities, and high school algebra, geometry and science courses. A high school degree and a valid drivers license are also required in most programs. Enrollments of new apprentices open when there are jobs available, and when work is slow there may be a waiting list for individual programs.

Although the current recession has reduced the number of newly enrolled apprentices, the outlook for the near future is bright. Major state public works projects now set aside a minimum of 10 percent of the work for apprentices after Governor Gary Locke issued his executive order, and in 2004, the apprenticeship utilization requirement rises to 15 percent. Apprenticeship prospects for women and minorities are also encouraging.

The governor’s executive order set forward voluntary goals for apprenticeship and diversity, and from all reports those goals are being exceeded on project after project. Since the governor's order, 14 construction projects have been undertaken and predictions of difficulty finding enough apprentices in rural areas have proved unfounded. In fact, one large project in Yakima exceeded the governor’s goal by achieving more than the 15% apprenticeship goal. Given this encouraging track record, labor is recommending that public agencies throughout the state incorporate apprenticeship goals in their future projects.

One of the biggest projects under construction right now is the new Seahawks football stadium.  Apprentices make up a significant portion of the work being done there with female apprentices accounting for some 20 percent of the apprentices, and minority apprentices account for nearly one third of all the apprentices on that job. The work they do as apprentices is good, but their future opportunities are even better.

The apprenticeship model has a proven track record of success. It thrives on partnerships with business, labor, educators and the community. Currently, more than 13,000 apprentices are registered in our state, equaling the enrollment of a fair-sized college. The most completions every year are carpenters, electricians, followed with laborers and ironworkers. 

When they graduate, apprentices become journey-level workers who have a lifetime career with a high level of freedom and mobility. Once they earn their “card”, a union journey-level worker can practice their trade anywhere in the country and earn a decent income. Average earnings for experienced journey-level work range from $45,000 to $80,000 a year, with good health and pension benefits. The high earnings capacity and the professional skills that can be used anywhere in the world are why apprenticeships really are the other four year degree.

Rick Bender is President of the Washington State Labor Council, the largest labor organization in the state.