Apprenticeships are a time-honored tradition of passing on craftsmanship, knowledge, and skills to the next generation in the workplace. Apprenticeships allow workers to earn while they learn, offering them an alternative to student debt while they obtain professional certification.

While traditional apprenticeships have grown steadily in Montana, the apprenticeship program is evolving to include a wider range of occupations to meet the training needs of our economy. Today’s apprentices study in fields such as information technology and healthcare, in addition to the traditional apprenticeships for plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

The chart below shows the apprenticeable occupations with the most projected annual job openings in Montana through 2026.

 Source: Montana Department of Labor & Industry 2016 to 2026

While the program has been growing in participation and expanding into new occupations, there is still room to grow. The U.S. Department of Labor maintains a list of all occupations that can be trained through a registered apprentice program, which includes over 1,000 jobs listed as apprenticeable under national guidelines. New apprenticeship programs in these occupations may begin when an employer expresses interest and works with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry to set up their program.

For more information on the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program, please visit http://apprenticeship.mt.gov. Staff contact information can be found at http://apprenticeship.mt.gov/contact.