Contractor Information

Contractor Information

So where will you get the talent you need?

1. Do you stop looking and hope you can manage with the staff you have?

2. Do you take on someone who may not have the skills you need and hope they work out?

3. Or do you hire an apprentice and train them to your own requirements?

We recommend option three (3). Hire and train an apprentice. It’s the best way to create the certified professionals you need to sustain and grow your business.

For contractors, participating in a registered apprenticeship is good for business.
America’s workforce is aging. As the baby boomers begin to retire, they will take with them a lifetime of skills and expertise, leaving potential gaps in the labor force and a demand for younger, skilled workers. Meanwhile, to compete in a global economy, employers need employees with increasingly specialized skills, and these employees are hard to find and keep.
A growing shortage of skilled workers, coupled with increased demand, means that industry and the trades will need to work hard to attract and retain qualified candidates. Registered apprenticeships, in which employees train under the direction of seasoned journey workers, are one good way businesses can prepare for the shifting demographics of the workforce.
In contrast to previous generations, today’s workers are accustomed to holding many jobs with many companies, and are comfortable jumping from one employer to the next in search of higher wages, better benefits and more opportunities. Apprenticeships foster loyalty, provide a pathway to family wage jobs and provide employers with a significant return on investment.

Benefits of Using Apprentices and the Apprenticeship Program

Companies that offer apprenticeship programs know that these programs make good financial sense.

Here’s why:

Apprenticeship programs give a sound return on your investment.

A recent study showed that the financial benefits of apprenticeship training programs exceed the cost for 15 different trades. On average, for each dollar invested, employers receive a benefit of $1.38—a net return of $0.38.

Apprenticeships put a skilled and trained workforce at your fingertips.

Apprenticeship programs ensure that you have skilled workers who are familiar with your standards. You determine exactly what skills you need, and design a training and educational program to foster those skills.

“Homegrown” employees are more productive.

A journeyperson who trained as an apprentice within your organization will naturally be more productive, since he or she is already familiar with company standards and procedures. That means your employees will spend their time contributing to your bottom line, not getting up to speed.

Apprenticeships foster loyalty.

There’s something intangible about the loyalty workers feel to a company that values them enough to invest time and money to help them reach their career goals. Training apprentices in your business creates skilled and experienced employees, many of whom will stay with you for the long term.

Registered apprenticeships are made up of the following components:

Structured and supervised training

  • Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training under the direction of experienced journeyworkers (skilled workers proficient in a certain job class)
  • Related instruction (minimum of 144 hours each year) is provided by the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) Education Trust Fund.
  • Apprenticeships typically last from one to six years.

Laws and regulations

  • Registered apprenticeships are governed by federal and state laws.
  • Parties enter into a written agreement called an apprenticeship registration that specifies length of training, related school requirements, an outline of the skills of the trade to be learned and wages the apprentice will receive.
  • Apprentices earn wages during the term of their apprenticeship.
  • Wages are a portion of the skilled wage rate and increase throughout the training program in accordance with a predetermined wage scale.

Credentials

  • Successful completion of a registered apprenticeship program leads to a nationally recognized certificate of completion and official journeyworker status.

Responsibilities

  • Apprentices manage their time, keep work records, attend classes and progress in their apprenticeship program. Apprentices may also be required to pay for tuition or books.
  • Employers pay wages, oversee on-the-job training, monitor attendance at training classes and evaluate progress

How do I get started?

Email Alexa Kochen akochen@azbuilders.org to get all the necessary information and resources to get started in an apprenticeship.

Some of her clients have this to say: