Apprenticeships Gaining Momentum

I think that apprenticeships are a great way to combat the demand of skilled labor.  On the job training is great for the hands on learner.  Check out the link below to the article about apprenticeships gaining momentum and see how Canada is handling their training and development programs. 

What are some other good ideas for training and development as the demand for skilled labor is intensifing?

https://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/133646/Apprenticeships_Gain_Momentum_in_Upstream_Oil_Gas_Sector/?all=HG2

 

Natalie Namisnyk

3 Replies

  • Gary Mitchell had a great guest post on the Emerson Process Experts blog, America Needs Apprentices. He based his thoughts on his experiences growing up in the UK. He wrote:

    During my apprenticeship, I learned all about the basics of instrumentation and controls, such as pressure, level, flow and temperature measurement and control. From theory to getting hands-on experience of calibrating, installing, testing, commissioning and tuning instruments, controllers and final control elements (valves, etc.)

    I’m now a great believer in this basic background knowledge and it has helped me tremendously throughout my career. Even today when our customers have problems with their facilities, it helps to be able to understand what’s going on out in the field when diagnosing issues in their control system.

    His ideas have great merit I think.

  • Traditionally, apprenticeship applied to skilled crafts like carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, machinists, etc.  And the technology didn't move too fast, so a diligent craftsman moved from tenderfoot apprentice to journeyman to highly skilled based almost entirely on experience.  With modern tools and technology, there are aspects of many crafts that are evolving pretty quickly and a journeyman must continually reinvest in training to maintain journeyman status.  It is a similar concern for health care providers.  An apprenticeship is a good way to get started, but by itself, it may not be sufficient.  However, there really aren't many opportunities to developing the necessary skills.  We have had a focus on college prep in our educational system and have neglected the trades.  I don't think shop class, for example, is very popular and may not even exist in many schools.  In addition to apprenticeships, we need to encourage and prepare new entrants.  Hopefully, the shortage of workers relative to demand will result in higher pay encouraging people to consider a craft as a good career choice.

  • In reply to Jim Cahill:

    I think some leading companies are using mentoring as a means to develop engineers.  Control Engineers are so multi-dimensional that it is difficult to learn most of what you need in school.  America suffers from a demographic gap where companies for a number of years tended to lay off rather than hire and only the more senior contributors tended to retain their jobs leaving a significant gap between todays retiring workforce and new workforce entrants.