Apprenticeships Growing Traction as Pathway to Employment in Vermont

As college and university fees continue to skyrocket and many recent graduates are left with enormous debt and no guarantees of a job many young people are looking at alternative pathways to employment. This new trend has seen a significant jump in interest in apprenticeships. Vermont had around 2,000 active apprentices in 2021 and recent data has shown that roughly 80% of apprentices will not only still be employed in four years, but that their wages are expected to increase by twice the state average.

Plumbers and electricians in the state can earn an average wage of about $25 per hour, with the top 10% making more than $30 per hour while a lift mechanics' average wage is over $22 per hour, and the top 10% can make close to $29 per hour. This means that during normal operation, an apprentice could bring in between $55,000 and $62,000 annually if they are working a 40-hour week.

“We want to get the word out, especially to students and job seekers, that Registered Apprenticeships are a financially-viable alternative to college and a valuable pathway to a meaningful career”

Jay Ramsey, Vermont DOL Director of Apprenticeships

Since 2017, Vermont’s Registered Apprenticeship program has enrolled more than 8,880 apprentices across 35 programs. Based on Vermont labor data and reported by the Vermont Department of Labor, there are seven career-focused programs that lead to recognized credentials and degrees that take around 18 months or less to complete while also representing a promising pathway to a full-time job. The seven programs identified are available at Vermont Tech, its Continuing Education and Workforce Development Department, and the Community College of Vermont (CCV).

Scholarships are available for these programs and can reach up to $1,000 per eligible student for up to 60 students per program. Funds, granted through the Vermont Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis upon acceptance into the programs. Eligible students must be new to the programs and enrolled in at least two classes.

Apprenticeship programs begin in the fall of 2021. New applicants to the Practical Nursing program may qualify for the fall 2022 start in order to complete the necessary pre-requisites, available from CCV.