From Early Roots to Modern Challenges
Escobedo works with Carpentry Shop supervisor David Sichi to learn how to operate a board bander machine at the UNC Carpentry Shop. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
By Joshua Peters
Apprenticeships have deep roots in North Carolina, dating back to the colonial era when they were a primary means of skill transfer and vocational training. During the 17th and 18th centuries, young individuals were commonly apprenticed to craftsmen, blacksmiths, tailors, and other tradespeople to learn a profession. These arrangements were often formalized through contracts where the apprentice would work under the guidance of a master in exchange for room, board, and education in the trade.
A History of Apprenticeships
In the 17th century, North Carolina implemented compulsory apprenticeships to support orphaned and indigent children, ensuring they acquired skills for economic self-sufficiency. This system provided labor for artisans and landowners while offering apprentices training in various trades.
By the 19th century, industrialization introduced factory-based employment, leading to a decline in traditional artisanal apprenticeships. However, new forms of vocational training emerged in industries such as textiles and furniture manufacturing. These apprenticeships were less formal but continued to serve as critical pathways for young workers entering skilled professions.
The federal government's establishment of the Registered Apprenticeship system in 1937, through the National Apprenticeship Act (also known as the Fitzgerald Act), helped standardize and promote apprenticeships across the country, including in North Carolina. This system ensured that apprenticeships adhered to a structured program combining on-the-job training with related classroom instruction.
In recent years, North Carolina has experienced a renaissance in apprenticeship programs, driven by a need for skilled workers and the rising costs of traditional college education. Organizations like ApprenticeshipNC, the State Apprenticeship Agency housed under the North Carolina Community College System, have been instrumental in expanding opportunities across various sectors, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and construction. ApprenticeshipNC supports thousands of apprentices and hundreds of employers statewide. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of local economies and offer clear pathways to well-paying careers. For example, companies like Siemens and IBM have partnered with ApprenticeshipNC to develop programs that blend technical skills with academic learning, often leading to industry-recognized credentials and associate degrees.
Apprenticeships in Our Time
At the State Board of Community Colleges Programs and Student Success Committee meeting on July 18, ApprenticeshipNC reported significant growth in apprenticeship participation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. North Carolina experienced a 45% increase in Registered Apprentice enrollments and a 50% rise in Registered Pre-Apprentice enrollments. Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, ApprenticeshipNC registered 4,990 apprentices and 1,774 pre-apprentices across various programs. Additionally, the State Apprenticeship Agency established 147 new apprenticeship programs and 19 new pre-apprenticeship programs. Over the course of the fiscal year, ApprenticeshipNC supported a total of 15,090 apprentices, 2,701 employers, and 872 sponsors.
One notable example is the Finance and Operations Apprenticeship Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Alex Escobedo, a participant in the program, is on his way to a career as a licensed carpenter. Escobedo is one of three Facilities Services apprentices — two in carpentry and one in life safety — helping to pilot the program. Participants learn a valuable trade from experienced Carolina staff members while earning a salary and benefits from the University and gaining knowledge about their field through part-time studies at local community colleges. Each apprenticeship lasts from two to four years, depending on the skills being learned, and is registered with the state of North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Labor. Once Escobedo and his peers successfully complete their apprenticeships, they can move into a journey-level position at Carolina.
The program was initially suggested by Alan Moran, a facilities construction administrator/project coordinator, at a UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum meeting in November 2018. Moran himself served an apprenticeship as a carpenter/joiner in his native Ireland more than 30 years ago. In 2020, a working group with staff from Facilities Services, the Finance and Operations Service Center of Excellence, and the Office of Human Resources began exploring best practices for apprenticeship programs. In 2023, Layna Johnson became the apprenticeship program coordinator, partnering with local community colleges and ApprenticeshipNC to provide apprentices with certificates, associate degrees, and journeyworker’s credentials.
“We want our apprentices to succeed, especially since our goal is to keep these people as our employees,” Johnson said. “Growing our own workforce is going to be paramount to the survival of the trades. Our aging workforce is a reality, and one of the best ways to fill vacancies is from within our organization.”
Wendy Halsey, associate vice chancellor for Facilities Services, echoed these sentiments. “Skilled tradespeople are at a premium these days,” she said. “When you bring in young people with new ideas and energy, and you train them and teach them, it is the best way to build an expert workforce.” Halsey hopes to expand the program to more trades and strengthen partnerships with local community colleges to develop an employee pipeline.
For Escobedo, the program has been transformative. “For me, this apprenticeship is life-changing,” he said. “As someone new and young, what stands out to me is how welcoming and helpful everybody is. This job opens so many opportunities to me.”
Modern Challenges
The escalating costs of higher education have prompted many to reevaluate the traditional four-year college pathway. In North Carolina, the average student loan debt for college graduates is approximately $29,681, with 55% of graduates carrying student debt. This financial burden can take years, if not decades, to repay, often delaying significant life milestones such as purchasing a home or starting a family.
In contrast, apprenticeships offer a compelling, debt-free alternative. Participants in apprenticeship programs earn a salary from the outset, allowing them to "earn while they learn." This model enables individuals to gain valuable work experience and skills without accumulating substantial debt.
The return on investment for apprenticeships is substantial. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, individuals who complete registered apprenticeship programs can earn an average of $300,000 more over their lifetime compared to those who do not participate in such programs. In North Carolina, apprenticeship programs are tailored to high-demand industries, ensuring that participants acquire skills that are directly applicable in the job market, thereby enhancing their earning potential and employability.
Despite these advantages, apprenticeships often face societal perceptions that position them as secondary options to traditional college degrees. To challenge this narrative, organizations and policymakers in North Carolina are actively promoting apprenticeships as viable and, in many cases, superior alternatives for various career paths. Initiatives include outreach programs targeting high school students to raise awareness about apprenticeship opportunities, integrating apprenticeship programs with community college curricula to provide a blended learning experience, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure the quality and relevance of apprenticeship training. For instance, in August 2024, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the North Carolina Business Committee of Education (NCBCE) received a $4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in high-demand fields. The program will develop, pilot, and scale pathways in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, early childhood education, healthcare, and information technology/cybersecurity.
These efforts aim to reshape public perception, highlighting that apprenticeships offer practical skills, financial stability, and direct pathways to successful careers without the encumbrance of significant debt. As more individuals and employers recognize the value of apprenticeships, they are becoming an increasingly attractive option for workforce development in North Carolina and beyond.