Earn While You Learn: Why Choose Apprenticeships
Friday, May 08, 2026 12:00 AM
Blog Highlights
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Apprenticeships have expanded beyond skilled trades into healthcare, business and IT.s.
- Apprenticeships address “skills gap” issue that employers are facing.
Skilled trades professions including welding, plumbing and HVAC maintenance are often what people associate with apprenticeships. However, other industries have seen an increase in apprenticeships in recent years.
“Many other sectors are now seeing the great value of apprenticeships, including healthcare, business, and IT,” said Dr. Leslie Kellogg, provost and vice president of academic and workforce education.
Apprenticeships in fields outside of skilled trades and manufacturing, Dr. Kellogg added, are growing due to employer need.
How apprenticeships solve employer needs
Employers hire apprentices because the worker helps bridge what’s referred to as a “skills gap,” or a mismatch between the skills employees have entering the workforce and the skills that employers are looking for.
Students entering the workforce have the knowledge and understanding of their field of study but may lack specifics needed for a job.
“Apprenticeships are a win-win for students and employers,” Dr Kellogg said. “Employers benefit from engaging in building their own workforce, while students are able to earn while they learn.”
How do apprenticeships work?
In an apprenticeship, students spilt their time between school and working for an employer in their chosen field. Depending on the apprenticeship, this could be in a health clinic, a manufacturing floor or a business suite.
This allows students to immediately apply the skills they’ve learned in the classroom at their place of employment as well as earn an income.
Whether it’s in the field of skilled trades, manufacturing, healthcare, business or IT, apprenticeships are great for those who thrive in hands-on learning environments. They offer long-term employment as opposed to an internship, which is usually short-term and temporary.
“Apprenticeships are one of the best models of education,” Dr. Kellogg said. “Apprentices not only earn while they learn; they also develop real-world, hands-on skills that build on a viable career path.”
If you are interested in the apprenticeship opportunities offered at Macomb, visit our webpage.
“Many other sectors are now seeing the great value of apprenticeships, including healthcare, business, and IT,” said Dr. Leslie Kellogg, provost and vice president of academic and workforce education.
Apprenticeships in fields outside of skilled trades and manufacturing, Dr. Kellogg added, are growing due to employer need.
How apprenticeships solve employer needs
Employers hire apprentices because the worker helps bridge what’s referred to as a “skills gap,” or a mismatch between the skills employees have entering the workforce and the skills that employers are looking for.
Students entering the workforce have the knowledge and understanding of their field of study but may lack specifics needed for a job.
“Apprenticeships are a win-win for students and employers,” Dr Kellogg said. “Employers benefit from engaging in building their own workforce, while students are able to earn while they learn.”
How do apprenticeships work?
In an apprenticeship, students spilt their time between school and working for an employer in their chosen field. Depending on the apprenticeship, this could be in a health clinic, a manufacturing floor or a business suite.
This allows students to immediately apply the skills they’ve learned in the classroom at their place of employment as well as earn an income.
Whether it’s in the field of skilled trades, manufacturing, healthcare, business or IT, apprenticeships are great for those who thrive in hands-on learning environments. They offer long-term employment as opposed to an internship, which is usually short-term and temporary.
“Apprenticeships are one of the best models of education,” Dr. Kellogg said. “Apprentices not only earn while they learn; they also develop real-world, hands-on skills that build on a viable career path.”
If you are interested in the apprenticeship opportunities offered at Macomb, visit our webpage.