DENVER — It can be tough to land your dream job or even get started in a new career, especially if you don't have the education or experience employers want. In Colorado, apprenticeship programs are helping more and more people bridge that gap. "It is a total win-win for everybody," said Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO of ActivateWork , a nonprofit that helps match job seekers with employers.
"The beauty of apprenticeship is that it really is the antidote or the opposite of college in that our apprentices are being paid to learn those mid-level skills and developing the experience those employers want." Colorado is becoming a national leader in its work to increase apprenticeships statewide. According to Apprenticeship Colorado , they've become the first state in the nation to recognize intermediaries - the folks helping get people into apprenticeships.
Colorado has even started a pilot program in two school districts to help get students interested in these programs and careers they might not have otherwise considered. Data from the state shows that from January to March of this year, more than 7,000 people were actively working as apprentices in more than 300 registered programs. This past June marked 101 new apprenticeship programs added for the fiscal year.
"This is a tremendous opportunity in my opinion to really get Coloradans the credentials and the education and the training that they need to meet those in demand jobs that are being unfilled," Young Hayes said. A.