Tag Archives: apprenticeship

Women working in trades and transportation industries are on the rise

More and more Idaho women are achieving financial stability by holding nontraditional roles in male-dominated industries – whether it be in construction, transportation or the general trades.

“Working in transportation helped me find things I love to do,” said Idaho Department of Transportation Training Specialist Lori Copeland. “There is value in discovering how the perspective I bring to my work as a woman is different than most of my male counterparts.”

Construction

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Quarterly Workforce Indicator (Q2 2023), one in five women are construction workers or in Idaho, approximately 20%. The number of women in the industry overall has grown by 8% since 1992.

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Idaho businesses focus on family with apprenticeship opportunities

Long-term staffing can be challenging for small family-owned Idaho businesses. Finding and hiring talent can also be a costly burden in a tight labor market. A fully trained candidate expects higher wages, and the cost to train a job candidate can be expensive.

Some Idaho businesses are turning to the Idaho Registered Apprenticeship program to train their children and keep the business in the family.

Aspen Air Design – Malad

Aspen Air Design has been in the HVAC business since 2008 and has locations in Idaho (Rexburg and Malad) as well as Utah.

As owner Virginia Edlefsen experienced hiring challenges, she noticed her 16-year-old grandson Leonardo Dirilo took interest in her business and decided to give him some valuable work experience as a Registered Apprentice.

“He’s handy with tools and he’s very mechanically inclined and likes to be working,” she said. “He likes to work, and the labor of it. He’s quite talented at building metal and putting things together. He’s a quick learner.”

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10 Mini-Cassia area students enroll in Machine Operator Registered Apprenticeship program

Machine operator apprenticesIndustry and education leaders came together in Burley on Nov. 14 to celebrate and support 10 new students who signed contracts and enrolled in the Machine Operator School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program (STRAP). The program began in 2017 and continues to be a great option for high school students interested in careers in the manufacturing industry.

McCain Foods and High Desert Milk, program supporters from the beginning, consistently participate, support and provide opportunities for local students to train for food processing jobs in high demand occupations at their companies.

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Women in the transportation and trades featured in Apprenticeship Idaho webinar Nov. 16

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 8, 2023
Media Contact: Gina.Robison@labor.idaho.gov

Those interested in exploring a career in transportation and trades can learn about how apprenticeships can help “earn while you learn” in a free webinar Nov.16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.

The Idaho Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau are partnering with Apprenticeship Idaho to host this event.

Apprenticeship is an alternative pathway to a meaningful career. It offers paid on-the-job training that can lead to a certificate or recognized credential. Women who pursue apprenticeship can attest to better-than-average pay, benefits and career advancement opportunities, according to recent research from the Urban Institute.

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Gov. Brad Little proclaims Idaho Apprenticeship Month, highlights Idaho LAUNCH

Gov. Brad Little with an apprentice

Gov. Brad Little has proclaimed the entire month of November as Idaho Apprenticeship Month.

Registered Apprenticeships are a proven pathway for job seekers to join the workforce and receive paid, on-the-job training leading to a recognized certification or credential in a working industry of their interest.

Apprenticeships have a 90% success rate of apprentices remaining as an employee in an industry after completing their program.

“There are multiple pathways to success,” Little said. “We need more young Idahoans to go on to postsecondary education, and we’ve been very intentional about expanding ‘go-on’ to include opportunities outside of the traditional four-year college degree – including apprenticeships.”

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Idaho Rural Water Association taps apprenticeships to fill retirements

Where does the water from our faucet go? Or maybe the water from the toilet?

Wastewater travels down our pipes to individual water districts across Idaho, where it is treated by Idaho Rural Water Association workers.

Water being tested

As a leader of dedicated employees in wastewater treatment, the organization trains and creates specialists who play a critical role in providing healthy water for our communities.

Job vacancies in the wastewater treatment industry are tough to fill.  Idaho’s retirement rate in this industry is slightly above average compared to the United States, according to Idaho Department of Labor economist Jan Roeser.

In total – 40% over the national average.

But on the other end of the spectrum, there are many people employed as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Idaho — 1,410 to be exact. Breaking that up geographically, there are about 500 employed operators in rural Idaho.

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Apprenticeships offer alternative source of labor supply, career for workers

Apprenticeships are a valuable workforce training option to help combat Idaho’s current labor challenges. Apprenticeship’s “earn while you learn” method allows for a more financially viable education than a traditional degree by combining classroom and on-the-job training for a more holistic educational experience.

As technology changes how and where we work, apprenticeships have the ability to adapt to changes in employer needs faster than a traditional degree and can be a win-win workforce solution for employees and employers.

Current labor market and future needs of employers

The following graph helps illustrate how the current labor market has evolved since 2015. Before the pandemic, the number of job postings and unemployed persons had a stable trend. When the pandemic hit, the number of unemployed spiked, but returned to its pre-pandemic level fairly soon. Job postings did not fall back to pre-pandemic levels, leaving the demand (job postings) outstripping supply (available workers), creating a current labor shortage of roughly 1.75 job openings per unemployed person in Idaho.

Graph: Idaho unemployed compared with job postings 2015-2023

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Apprenticeship highlighted in July with Labor’s scheduled webinars

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 5, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov and Kandi.Rudd@labor.idaho.gov

Two webinars in July hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor will showcase how Registered Apprenticeships are a valuable investment to businesses.

The first webinar takes place on Tuesday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to noon MDT via Zoom.

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Precision Propeller taps veterans to help strengthen its business

Veterans Brandon McCullough and Jeremy Coak, at Precision Propellor Services, work together by giving a propellor the proper parts to make it safe for flight. Veterans Brandon McCullough and Jeremy Coak work together at Precision Propeller Services to make sure a propeller has the parts it needs for a safe flight.

Hiring in industries that don’t require a college degree can be challenging. Certain industries need highly trained individuals to meet job requirements. Registered Apprenticeship programs help meet that need by providing on-the-job training to create a qualified professional.

For Ted Chester, owner of Precision Propeller Services in Boise, the Idaho Registered Apprenticeship program gave his company the talent with the skills they need to learn how to craft various propellers. Chester has been using the program for three to four years to grow his business.

“I was really impressed. The Idaho Department of Labor apprenticeship team walked me through all the steps for creating a Registered Apprenticeship,” Chester said. “It was a good experience.”

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Hard work pays off for three machine operator graduates

Students who obtained their machine operator apprenticeship credential stand with their mentors.

Pictured left to right: Owner of High Desert Milk Karla Robinson, High Desert Milk instructor Tory Bailey, Luis Arevalo, Guillermo Martinez, Juvencio Trejo, plant manager Shawn Burton and Bob Snyder.

For student Guillermo Martinez, the Registered Apprenticeship program paved the path to his career.

“The program gave me a head start in life and helped get me ready to work 12 hour shifts. I have learned so much from the plant (High Desert Milk), and I feel I have a better chance of getting hired at other plants,” Martinez said.

The Idaho Department of Labor connects Idahoans to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the Gem State to expand and diversify the workforce. And the machine operator apprenticeship is graduating skilled workers in south central Idaho.

The Magic Valley area is host for multiple U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Registered Apprenticeship sponsorships. Various sponsors include the College of Southern Idaho, McCain Foods and High Desert Milk. They each have programs designed to train employees in operation maintenance for manufacturing, packaging, dehydration and use of other machines within a facility.

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