Apprenticeship Program Helps Attract/Retain Skilled Labor

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 15-percent increase in the need for new workers in the commercial and industrial door industry by 2016. That means that in just eight years, there will be almost 19 million new workers needed in the United States alone.
Meanwhile, door dealers struggle to attract and retain qualified new recruits now. The costs associated with hiring the wrong person for the job (think lost time, lost production and the emotional toll on company morale to see workers come and go) are staggering.
Aside from researching good hiring habits, door dealers can consider offering their employees incentives, such as continued education.
It’s a win-win deal, said Colleen Henry of the Department of Labor when she spoke at this year’s IDA Expo in Las Vegas on the topic of IDEA’s new apprenticeship program. “Employers who offer advancement training and education have an advantage over their competitor, as these are the number three objectives for the skilled labor set,” she said. “Plus, once the new hires are attained, employees are less likely to leave if they’re getting education on the job.”
Not to mention that training:

·        increases productivity

·        reduces absenteeism

·        reduces turnover

Meanwhile, trained employees:

·        become more valuable

·        develop a vested interest in their workplace

·        gain a personal sense of accomplishment

·        gain respect among their work peers

And, according to Degreesofopportunity.org, 55 percent of employees who utilize continued education opportunities do their jobs better.
Both employees and employers benefit from continued education. In fact, many labor statistics experts say that offering continued education options will become more of a necessity than an incentive to potential employees in the coming years.
So, how does it work and how do you know if your company can offer apprenticeship? See below for list of questions and answers from IDEA managing director, Todd Thomas.

How does it work?
Thomas: IDEA has produced the Apprenticeship Standards, on-the-job training schedule and related instruction curricula, all of which has been approved by the U. S. Department of Labor. Any dealer wishing to utilize the program is required only to register with their local Office of Apprenticeship agency, using the pre-approved standards and course of study.
The apprenticeship program is a two-year combination of hands-on training and classroom/self-study learning that follows the aforementioned IDEA technician certification curricula.

Who can offer it?
Thomas: The Automated Access Systems Technician Apprenticeship Training Program is open to any dealer who sells, installs and services residential garage doors, rolling steel fire doors, commercial rolling doors and commercial sectional doors. These four components must be covered in order to meet the requirements of the program. 
The size of the company is irrelevant to eligibility, but the four disciplines (residential garage doors, rolling steel fire doors, commercial rolling doors and commercial sectional doors) must be included in the training process.

Who benefits?
Thomas:
The Industry
The apprenticeship program represents the first time the installers and service technicians of this industry have been recognized as an occupation, advancing the cause of industry professionalism. When IDEA was formed, training was the greatest area of need in the industry. This program represents the ultimate form of systematic, standardized training the industry has ever had.  It gives the industry an opportunity to promote itself as a quality career choice, offering workers a high quality of life as a door systems technician.
As a federally-approved apprenticeship program it brings a variety of opportunities to the industry including training grants, vocational programs, pre-qualification for public projects and other advantages.
Door Dealers/Employees
The dealers benefit by having a highly trained workforce and the technicians benefit through a quality career path and recognition of their professional skills. 

“So, where do I start?” Contact your state’s apprenticeship representative through the Department of Labor’s Web site directory and set up an appointment. Your rep will walk you through developing a program that’s right your company’s needs. You can also visit the IDEA site for more information on the curriculum and answers to FAQs.