Apprenticeships: Earn AND Learn Simultaneously w/ Ryan Craig #827
May 15, 2024
auto_awesome
Expert Ryan Craig explores the benefits of apprenticeships as an alternative to expensive college education. Discusses the shifting landscape of workforce development and the potential for earning while learning. Highlights the advantages of apprenticeships in bridging the skills gap and addressing student loan debt and underemployment. Encourages younger generations to consider diversified career paths and alternative education options.
Apprenticeships offer a dual learning and earning opportunity, challenging the notion that expensive degrees are the sole path to a decent job.
Employers are increasingly embracing apprenticeships to address talent shortages, especially in specialized sectors like cybersecurity, healthcare, and sales force solutions.
Investing in apprenticeship infrastructure can lead to a more diverse and resilient workforce, reducing the heavy reliance on traditional higher education for career success.
Deep dives
Apprenticeships Offer Earn-and-Learn Pathway to Jumpstart Careers
Apprenticeships provide individuals the opportunity to earn a living while simultaneously learning job skills, challenging the traditional notion that expensive degrees are the only pathway to a decent job. The rise of apprenticeship programs, as detailed by education expert Ryan Craig, offers a modern alternative for job seekers to gain essential skills and work experience. By bridging the gap between education and workforce needs, apprenticeships aim to enhance workforce diversity and geographic mobility, providing a valuable option for those seeking career advancement.
The podcast highlights the critical challenges faced by traditional higher education, such as low completion rates, high costs, and underemployment among graduates. With the changing economic landscape and increasing demand for specialized skills, apprenticeships emerge as a solution to equip individuals with practical, in-demand skills that are often lacking in traditional college programs. By focusing on relevant skills and real-world experience, apprenticeships offer a more targeted and effective approach to career preparation, leading to better employment outcomes.
Investing in Earn-and-Learn Infrastructure for Economic Growth
While the current education system heavily invests in traditional colleges and universities, there is a pressing need to allocate more resources towards apprenticeships and earn-and-learn pathways. Comparing the significant public funding directed to higher education against the comparatively minimal support for apprenticeships, there is a clear imbalance in resource allocation. By investing in apprenticeship infrastructure and incentivizing employers to participate, states can cultivate a more diverse and resilient workforce, promoting economic growth and reducing the reliance on traditional higher education as the sole path to career success.
Apprenticeship Opportunities Transforming Business Models
Businesses are embracing the apprenticeship model to enhance their value proposition. For instance, a sales force solutions company introduced a registered apprenticeship program for sales force talent, bolstering both their own operations and the services offered to clients. This shift toward apprenticeships presents new avenues for companies to address talent shortages, especially in sectors like cybersecurity, workday, SAP, supply chain, and even healthcare.
Resurgence of Apprenticeship Programs Reshaping High School Education
The resurgence of apprenticeships signifies a shift in high school education, moving away from the traditional college-focused track. By reintroducing apprenticeship programs, high schools can provide viable alternatives for students beyond the typical four-year degree route, especially for those not suited for or interested in a college track. This change aims to revitalize career and technical education (CTE) at the high school level, offering students a diverse range of post-secondary pathways to explore and pursue.
Apprenticeships aren’t just for blacksmiths! The notion that an individual could earn a living, while simultaneously learning how to do their job is such a foreign concept. That’s certainly not how we do things here in America where more folks believe that it takes money to make money! In recent decades more individuals have subscribed to the idea that you have to go to the most expensive college, take on a boatload of student loans, and saddle yourself with years of debt if you want a decent job that pays. Some of the most selective universities are quickly approaching the $100,000 mark… for a single year of college. Nothing has risen faster than the price of college over the decades. But, what if there was another way? We’re joined by education and workforce expert Ryan Craig who says that there are alternatives. His book, Apprentice Nation explores how a modern apprenticeship system will allow students and job seekers to jump-start their careers by learning while they earn, leading to greater workforce diversity and geographic mobility. Hear why other countries are beating us at the apprenticeship game, the types of industries that would greatly benefit from apprenticeships, why college and apprenticeships aren’t mutually exclusive, where you can go to find the best learn and earn programs today, and much more!
Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.
Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.
During this episode we enjoyed an Adjustable Rate by Inner Voice! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!