Whether tool and die, maintenance or other technical professions, traditional high schools no longer teach skilled trades, said Gary Sievert, Human Resources director for Wellington Industries Corp., a Belleville-based auto supplier. This is a problem for employers looking for tradespeople skilled in an array of occupations and for potential employees who can’t afford to attend college.

Thankfully, registered apprenticeships offer a competitive advantage. As the Department of Labor (DOL) escalates funding for apprenticeships, the number and variety of programs across the nation continue to grow. There were 1,898 apprenticeship programs in the U.S. at the end of 2015 up from 1,409 in 2011.

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Within the last five to 10 years, the DOL’s office of apprenticeship has been creating nontraditional apprenticeships for medical assistants, veterinary techs, direct support specialists (group home workers), IT and computer information specialists’ jobs, explained Janene Erne, director of technical programs and apprenticeship at Oakland Community College (OCC) and chair of Michigan Educator’s Apprenticeship and Training Association.

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This story is sponsored by the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN).