1. Apprenticeship in Washington
Jody Robbins,
Apprenticeship Program Manager
To Senate Labor & Commerce Committee
May 16, 2018

2. Today’s discussion What is apprenticeship?
Governance structure in Washington
Participation trends
Financing
This presentation is organized around:
What is apprenticeship?
The governance structure we use to ensure each apprenticeship is set up to succeed.
These first two topics are interwoven – because you can’t talk about this subject without talking about the oversight and partnerships that are essential to successful apprenticeship programs.
We’ll look at trends in apprenticeship programs and participation.
And lastly, the chair asked us to cover how the financing works.

3. Apprenticeship: Background and Governance

4. What is apprenticeship?
Earn while you learn
Formal training agreement.
Training consists of:
2,000+ hours of supervised on-the-job training
At least 144 hours of classroom instruction per 2,000 hours of on-the-job-training.
Most take 2-5 years to complete.
Continuing-education and associate-degree credentials available.
First, the basics…..
Each apprenticeship is a formal, legally binding education and training agreement that is:
Approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship & Training Council (WSATC) and
Registered with L&I.
This oversight is important to ensure that each apprenticeship has been well thought-out – from start to finish – and will provide effective training that benefits the worker as well as the industry.
Registered Apprenticeships require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of related supplemental or classroom instruction per year.
Most programs registered in our state take 2–5 years to complete.
Many apprenticeship programs connect their graduates with industry-specific, journey-level continuing-education and associate-degree credential options.

5. Governance and partnership
WA State Apprenticeship & Training Council sets standards; approves apprenticeship programs (registered through L&I).
Partnership
Employers and industries (sponsors) get reliable source of skilled labor.
Workers get valuable training and portable credential while working and earning.
Local workforce entities have avenue to promote training opportunities in key industries.
State and local education partners help provide industry training in a way that doesn’t stretch capacity.
The Apprenticeship Council is the regulatory body that oversees apprenticeship in our state.
It’s a partnership between employers, workers and the general public (RCW 49.04).
All members are appointed by the director of L&I for three-year terms.
In addition to the voting members, there are non-voting members from the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board, the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges, the Employment Security Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.
The council meets quarterly to approve and establish standards of apprenticeship, and to make recommendations about classroom training proposed by the Board for Community & Technical Colleges.
While the oversight of the Apprenticeship Council is crucial, it’s the broader partnership that truly makes it work.
We have to have employers and industries that are willing to invest the time.
They will benefit from a steady supply of highly skilled workers, increased loyalty and productivity.
Studies show that employers receive $1.38 for every dollar invested in apprenticeship (Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum study).
We need workers who are interested and committed.
Apprentices benefit from an increasing scale of wages as they progress through their program and graduate with a nationally recognized, transferrable credential.
We need educational partners to deliver the necessary classroom instruction – and we have them….
The state’s Workforce Training Board and the Board for Community & Technical Colleges provide essential coordination and leadership…
While throughout the state, our community and technical colleges are delivering the classroom components for thousands of apprentices.
Our workforce-development partners serve as a crystal ball to help identify workforce trends for future apprenticeship opportunities – and they also help connect employers and job seekers with customized training opportunities.
BOTTOM LINE:
We have the elements in place for a successful apprenticeship system.
Washington’s apprenticeship system is working effectively for hundreds of apprenticeship programs and thousands of participants.
We have a solid base for expanding apprenticeships in the traditional trade occupations as well as nontraditional fields that are starting to emerge. More on this in a moment…

6. Sponsorship & labor arrangements vary
Sponsors include single employers and multi- employer groups, with or without union representation.
Traditionally, most apprenticeship programs involved union labor.
Currently about 65% of apprenticeship programs.
Open-shop and non-union programs are growing.
Now about 35% of programs.

7. Pre-apprentice and youth programs
Pre-apprentice programs
Help candidates meet/exceed min quals for entry.
Diversify pool of eligible applicants.
Youth apprenticeship
Juniors/seniors (ages 16-18)
Up to 20 hours/week during school year; up to 40 hours/week in summer.
Currently, 2 active programs:
AJAC – Manufacturing
Spokane Public Schools CTE and New Tech Skills Center Culinary Arts Apprenticeship
PRE-APPRENTICE PROGRAMS
It’s important to remember that not everyone who wants to pursue an apprenticeship is ready on Day 1.
20 prep programs have been created to help students acquire at least the minimum skills needed for specific apprenticeship programs.
These prep programs also can help when we’re trying to diversity the pool of eligible applicants.
There’s a broad partnership working together to deliver the pre-apprentice programs:
Tribes, apprenticeship sponsors, community/tech colleges, skills centers, prisons and nonprofits.
I want to especially highlight work by the Dept of Corrections to create a statewide apprenticeship prep program to prepare inmates to enter internships that can lead to good-paying jobs and productive lives outside of prison.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP
Currently, there are 2 youth apprenticeship programs active in Washington:
AJAC – Manufacturing
Spokane Public Schools CTE and New Tech Skills Center Culinary Arts Apprenticeship
[DESCRIBE WHAT’S BEING DONE TO EXPAND YOUTH APPRENTICESIHPS]

8. Apprenticeship Numbers

9. Registered apprenticeships, 2017
More than 7,500 participating employers.
Currently, 203 registered “programs” involving 180 occupations.
17,188 active apprentices.
Included 5,200 new registered apprentices in 2017 – compared to 3,060 in 2012.
2,498 (15%) in non-traditional (non-construction trades) occupations.

10. Active apprentices 2008 to late 2017
As you all know, the Great Recession was very damaging to the construction industry – which caused apprenticeships to shrink.
As the economy and the construction industry recovered, apprenticeships have skyrocketed as well.

11. Top 25 occupations with apprenticeships, 2017
This shows the top 25 occupations with apprenticeships last year. Construction and industrial trades have long been a good fit for apprenticeships, but we are working to bring apprenticeship opportunities to other occupations as well.
We’ve highlighted two non-traditional occupations that have broken into the top 25 – medical assistants and workers’ comp adjudicators. Sponsoring an apprenticeship program within L&I has been good experience - and gives us more insight on what it takes for a program to be successful.
With additional investment in high-tech and other occupations, we hope to see other occupations move up over the new few years.

12. Apprenticeship programs by L&I region25 27 45 23 25 28

13. Construction vs. non-traditional occupations
Some individuals show up in more than one category (e.g., a female veteran). The “totals” above each pie chart represent unduplicated numbers.

14. Medical assistant apprentices in training
“My experience with the medical apprentice program has been great!
There’s so much to learn that you
can't learn just from books,
so I love that it is ever-changing.
I hope this MA certification will be
the stepping stone I need to
further my career
in the medical field in the future.” 
– Amanda Green,
MA Apprentice, Tulalip Tribe

15. Financial Picture

16. Financial support
Funding sources include: employers, workers, unions, industry groups, public (state/feds).
About $36 of non-public funding for every $1 of public investment.
L&I administering $12.4M in state and federal grants this biennium to:
Expand/diversify existing programs; attract new programs & industries; expand youth apprenticeships.
Create team to meet with employers & unions.
Provide outreach/education to unions, employers, employer associations?
Pay half-tuition for IT apprentices.

17. Apprenticeships = Value
Workforce Training Board report on workers who completed apprenticeships:
93% were employed 6-9 months after leaving the program.
Median annualized earnings were $85,000.
2-3 years after completing, apprentice graduates earned about $14,200 more per year than non-participants.

18. Staff contact Tammy Fellin, Legislative Director
Government Affairs & Policy Division
Jody Robbins, Program Manager
Apprenticeship Program