Non-traditional apprenticeships can help close skills gap

Senator Dominick J. Ruggerio
Posted 3/25/15

It never fails to strike me when I hear from a business owner about the trouble he or she is having finding qualified employees to fill job openings. The skills gap is not a problem Rhode Island is …

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Non-traditional apprenticeships can help close skills gap

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It never fails to strike me when I hear from a business owner about the trouble he or she is having finding qualified employees to fill job openings. The skills gap is not a problem Rhode Island is alone in facing, but it is all the more troubling here because of our unacceptably high unemployment rate. It is critical to address the skills gap in order to put Rhode Island on the path to long-term economic prosperity.

The Senate put forward a strong action plan to help Rhode Island workers gain the skills they need to compete in a modern economy. One of the proven tools we can use to help Rhode Islanders improve their skills is apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships work. These programs help to address the unemployment rate by providing effective training programs that teach skills particular to a field as well as “soft skills” such as punctuality, communication and teamwork. They have historically served as a strong pathway to the middle class and a step towards a rewarding career in the trades industries, such as electricians and plumbers.

I have put forward legislation to utilize the effectiveness of apprenticeships in a new way, outside of the trades.

The concept of non-traditional apprenticeships has worked in other states. Since 2007, the South Carolina non-traditional apprenticeship program has placed 11,000 apprentices in varied fields. These individuals have acquired in demand skills and are now in, or on their way to, good jobs.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez has commented on how apprenticeship programs are a “sleeping giant” for the U.S. economy. It is time the giant awakes in our state.

My legislation, 2015-S-0065, would expand opportunities for apprenticeships into non-trade areas, such as today’s advanced manufacturing, information technology, design, and management, while providing a reimbursement incentive for companies that take on apprentices.

Apprenticeships benefit both workers and employers. Individuals in need of employment are trained and prepared for quality jobs, while companies are able to train for the specific skills they need. Apprenticeship programs provide an opportunity for workers to acquire skills needed for jobs currently available while allowing employers to meet their need to fill jobs for which they have trouble finding qualified candidates. This legislation is an important part of our broader strategy to ensure access to quality training programs, build an education system meets today’s needs, improve the state’s economy and get Rhode Islanders back to work.

Dominick J. Ruggerio, a Democrat representing District 4, which includes portions of North Providence and Providence, is Senate Majority Leader.

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