In recent years, more Americans have become less enchanted with the idea of a college education, as those venturing onto campuses face rising tuition costs, shaky career prospects, and rampant left-wing woke politics, both inside and outside the classroom.
As many forgo the college experience for an immediate entry into the workforce, Florida’s employment agency is celebrating the success of its apprenticeship program.
According to the Florida Daily on Monday, CareerSource Florida reported that in fiscal year 2022–23, the state offered 365 registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs through Apprentice Florida, which added 36 new programs just within the past year.
Overall, 19,605 apprentices and pre-apprentices were trained in those programs.
Read: CareerSource Tampa Bay And Hillsborough County Announce Continuation Of ACE Program
During that time, 2,135 people completed their skills-developing program and received an apprenticeship certificate.
As a consequence, they started off their post-apprenticeship career, making $25.70 an hour, or $53,642 per year.
While a college graduate’s salary depends on the field of study, ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for a college grad in Florida is roughly $20,000 less than those apprentices, coming in at around $33,995 a year.
Those enrollment numbers show how much the apprentice program has taken off in the past decade.
According to ApprenticeFlorida.com, the official website of the program, the agency in 2014 reported 7,395 active apprentices, with 1,198 graduates, spread across 222 programs.
On the state’s website for the program, Apprentice Florida, the agency notes that a “fully proficient worker” who completes an apprenticeship program starts at $60,000 a year.
“Apprenticeship programs are the real-world classrooms, where hands-on experiences become the textbooks, and skilled mentors teach valuable lessons,” CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston told Florida Daily.
“These programs offer a cost-effective way for businesses to develop a loyal and highly skilled workforce, enhancing their long-term competitiveness.”
Read: Career Education Credits Eyed For Florida High School Students
Apprentice Florida on its website notes that it targets key industries with salaries that typically outpace other fields, such as retail or food service. Those in information technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, trade and logistics and construction.
Some examples of the jobs apprentices can train for include military aircraft technician, electrician or utility line worker, plumber, pharmacy tech and cybersecurity worker.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has promoted the program in a video posted on CareerSource’s website.
He said in his generation, people went to college because they were told they must go to college, and wound up deep in debt.
But people who learn trades can go to work right away and make “good money right off the bat,” he added, and often earn “six figures”: in their mid 20s and are positioned to start their own companies.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure those options are presented for people so people have pipelines into these various industries but also just delivering the message that people who go to college are not better than people who opt for vocational- or skills-type education and careers.
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