We constantly hear complaints from companies that they can't find enough American workers with technical skills. So it's good to hear that a company is actually doing something to train smart young Americans for the highly-skilled jobs that are in demand. As reported by National Public Radio, Siemens is convincing high school graduates who are definitely college material to enroll instead in a four-year apprenticeship program to become trained as machinists.
Consisting of two years of course work at community college plus on-the-job training, the program uses many of the skills and talents ordinarily applied to conventional college curricula. The students finish with an associate's degree, certification as journeyman machinists, and the promise of a job paying $44,000 to start--plus plenty of opportunity to advance to higher skill levels and even better pay. Equally significant is what they finish without: college debt. Rather than borrowing heavily to finance their studies, they receive a salary throughout their apprenticeships.
It's not insignificant that, despite running the apprenticeship program in North Carolina, Siemens is a German rather than an American company. Apprenticeship programs are long recognized and well-respected in Germany as an effective way of providing career training for bright students and highly skilled employees for high-tech companies. With many science graduates at all levels in this country facing a very difficult job market, perhaps it's time look for other ways besides conventional college programs to prepare technically able students for productive and successful careers.
It's not insignificant that, despite running the apprenticeship program in North Carolina, Siemens is a German rather than an American company. Apprenticeship programs are long recognized and well-respected in Germany as an effective way of providing career training for bright students and highly skilled employees for high-tech companies. With many science graduates at all levels in this country facing a very difficult job market, perhaps it's time look for other ways besides conventional college programs to prepare technically able students for productive and successful careers.
