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Apprenticeship changes lives. Maybe yours?

National Apprenticeship Week spotlights the tried-and-true pathway to a good job, registered union apprenticeship

SEATTLE, WA (November 20, 2024) — A good job can change the fortunes of an entire family. Traditional higher education can be a pathway to a good job for some, but it is increasingly expensive — and not the right fit for everyone. But there is a different way to learn life-changing skills and get on the path to good jobs that support families and lift communities: registered union apprenticeships. 

Registered apprenticeships are the gold standard of job training programs. Apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training — guided by an experienced master-level practitioner in an occupation — with classroom instruction. The federal government and states register apprenticeship programs that meet their standards, and the best programs are also operated by labor and management organizations, and funded through collective bargaining.

In an affordability crisis, apprenticeship is all the more important. Per the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute, which brings together partners to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities for more workers, the average starting salary after completing a registered apprenticeship is $80,000.

Over a lifetime, an apprentice graduate can earn more than $300,000 more than peers who didn’t complete an apprenticeship. 

And 94% of apprentices stay on the job after completing their program.

Apprentices with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
(IUPAT) share why they chose to go into a trade

There are registered union apprenticeships across industries like hospitality, construction, cybersecurity, care work and advanced manufacturing (here’s a handy list of apprenticeships from the AFL-CIO, and Washington State info from the State Building & Construction Trades Council). The people working in these industries will literally build our future — and a good life for themselves, and their families.

Whether you’re a young worker just starting out or older and looking for a career change, apprenticeship offers the opportunity to learn a tangible skill and join a trade that’s building the world ahead. Fewer podcast hosts, more electricians: a win-win for us all. 

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler shares the power of registered union
apprenticeship 

Related Topics:

CHECK OUT THE UNION DIFFERENCE in Washington: higher wages, affordable health and dental care, job and retirement security.

FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN TOGETHER with your co-workers to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and a voice at work. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!