Inaugural apprenticeship summit looks to promote new programs for Maine employers
Photo / Courtesy, Maine Apprenticeship Program
An inaugural apprenticeship summit seeks to build awareness about the benefits of apprenticeship programs.
The Maine Department of Labor will hold its first-ever summit next month on the use of job apprenticeships and best practices for implementing them.
The conference is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Augusta Civic Center.
Businesses, industry associations, unions, schools, workforce partners and others will have a chance to learn strategies for developing registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
The DOL said it’s hoping the summit will attract two types of business leaders: current sponsors of the Maine Apprenticeship Program, and those interested in learning more about the program. The department has been working to diversify the types of industries that it works with, as well as the type of apprentices it matches with employers.
The summit is part of an effort to share the options and benefits of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships with more employers and schools throughout the state.
Earning while learning
Apprenticeship is a type of career path guided by industries. Apprenticeship programs are offered in industries that include health care, IT, architecture, farming and more. The DOL notes that:
- Apprentices can be anyone who is age 16 or older
- Apprentices participate in a “earn while you learn” program, meaning they are furthering their education in a classroom and on the job
- The Department of Labor provides a $1,500 signing bonus and reimburses $500 per apprentice to any employer that participates in the program.
According to the department, registered apprenticeship has a history of delivering great outcomes for both employers and workers, such as:
- 90% of apprentices who complete their program are still working with their employers after one year
- 3,058 Maine apprentices were actively working on industry-recognized skill certification in 2022
- The average wage of apprentices who completed their programs during 2022 was $27.44.
In its second year, the Maine Construction Academy hosted a total of 15 construction immersion programs last summer, up from four when the academy rolled out in the summer of 2023. The academy is geared toward growing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in Maine and is funded into mid-2026.
To bring more women into Maine’s male-dominated construction workforce, Gov. Janet Mills last spring signed an executive order outlining measures around recruitment, training and retention.
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