LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) -From construction and manufacturing to healthcare and education, the Kentucky Department of Education says apprenticeships are becoming a career readiness standard for many high school students and even working adults.

“We were failing both industries and students because we did not have any additional options after high school,” Training Specialist for the Department of Education Mary Taylor said. “It was to go straight into the workforce, go into the military, or a post secondary institution. Now students are able to utilize apprenticeship pathways that appeal to them.”

Taylor said these programs create not only debt free and hands on career opportunities, but a way to fix job shortages.

“We have school districts that are growing their own teachers to combat the teacher shortage,” Taylor said. “These students are in a teaching and learning pathway in high school, and then that district is hiring them.”

According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, by 2032, Kentucky would need 97,000 more workers to fulfill these high demand fields. Some industries are getting ahead like the Kentucky Retail Federation, with their new apprenticeship.

“The retail industry is no different than any other industry out there right now,” President of Kentucky Retail Institute Cassie Grigsby said. “The need is there for employees. As we heard this over the past several years, this is the sole reason the retail apprenticeship program was created.”

Grigsby said beyond the many benefits, an assistantship like theirs, can create a professionally ready candidate.

“Once a student or working adult completes the apprenticeship program; the goal is to complete on Friday and continue on Monday with a full-time job,” she said.

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