New Website Encourages Montana Youths to Explore Apprenticeship Careers

Montana’s Department of Labor and Industry announced today the launch of a new website: http://www.exploreapprenticeship.mt.gov aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to explore careers in the registered Apprenticeship and Training Program fields.

"We want the next generation of Montana’s 21st Century workforce to be educated about the fulfillment and success of Apprenticeship careers," said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner, Keith Kelly. "Our kids need options, when a 4-year college program isn’t a fit. This exciting new website introduces our kids to Apprenticeship career possibilities."

The website design is youthful, simple and inviting and offers the "who", "what", "why" and "how" for students and parents to learn more about Montana’s Apprenticeship and Training Programs, including: construction and building trades, healthcare, manufacturing, and food service. It also emphasizes the importance of math and science and suggests students take as many of those courses as they can. The Department of Labor and Industry encourages school principals and guidance counselors to use the new website as a career education tool.

Registered Apprenticeship is an ‘earn while you learn’ model that provides a combination of on-the-job learning and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Montana’s Apprenticeship and Training Program currently has more than 600 employer sponsors for approximately 1,500 registered apprentices working in 50 different occupations.

In 2008, third-year Apprenticeships averaged $18.30 per hour and the Journeyman level wage rate for most construction related crafts ranged from $22 – $40 dollars an hour.