Apprenticeship plans expand as Florida, federal programs near

June 19--State and federal programs set to launch this fall should help expand apprenticeships to new industries and enable more workers to earn pay while working toward a better job, a Central Florida workforce official says.

A budding partnership between Seminole State College and insurer The Hartford shows how an employer using non-traditional apprenticeships can fill a need, said Pamela Nabors, president and CEO at CareerSource Central Florida. A program that will start with the fall semester will allow a dozen or more workers to complete an associate's degree and make money while becoming qualified for insurance jobs that otherwise could require a bachelor's degree.

"It's a response to a need insurance companies have, to get more people into jobs that previously required bachelors degrees," Nabors said Monday.

Other possibilities for such programs include tech manufacturers such as those at BRIDG, an electronics lab in Osceola. Companies could consider expanding apprenticeships beyond traditional manufacturing roles such as machining and use them to train workers for software positions, Nabors said.

The efforts come amid a tight labor market for employers adding jobs in Central Florida. Industries adding the most jobs here in May included construction and professional services, according to state figures released this month.

The federal Apprenticeship USA program will include Florida and 35 other states. The Department of Labor is set for its site to launch in the fall, with a goal of doubling registered apprenticeships by 2019.

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The state's Departments of Economic Opportunity and Education will establish standards for required courses and competencies in their programs to fit Apprenticeship USA, Nabors said. The agencies also are partnering with CareerSource Florida for a two-day state summit that begins Tuesday in Miami and will set recommendations for the next steps here.

At the same time, work with traditional apprenticeship employers such as construction contractors continues, Nabors said.

"A lot of people think it's a long process, such as four years," she said. "But that's not true. Even in traditional apprenticeship areas like painters, they can be short-term, such as nine to 18 months."

Got a news tip about jobs and careers in Central Florida, or taking care of your money? wzimmerman@tronc.com or Twitter, @ZMediaWorks

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