Apprenticeships: A Stepping Stone for Young Adults

Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program service providers are committed to helping young adults access pathways to well-paying jobs in growing industries. The first nationwide Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW) is May 5-11, 2024, and will be celebrated at over a thousand events across the country.

YAW is a celebration established by the U.S. Department of Labor where employers, industry associations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, education providers and government leaders host events to showcase and promote high-quality, inclusive, in-demand career pathway opportunities through a Registered Apprenticeship program. Additionally, YAW provides apprentices a platform to share their experience and how an apprenticeship has transformed their lives.

What is an Apprenticeship?

Let's start with the basics. Apprenticeships are work opportunities specifically designed to offer you hands-on, "learn-while-you-earn" experience in a job or industry that interests you. They combine on-the-job training as well as job-related education, sometimes in a traditional classroom or sometimes in an online setting, to give you an understanding of a job's duties and responsibilities. Apprenticeships typically last 1 to 6 years, during which you learn specific skills and, sometimes, acquire certifications. And while you start receiving a paycheck as soon as you start an apprenticeship, you're also eligible for wage increases as you learn and master new skills.

Why Should Young Adults Consider an Apprenticeship?

While apprenticeships are not restricted to any age group, they can be especially helpful for young adults transitioning into adulthood. Apprenticeships are paid work opportunities that allow people to gain skills for the workplace, and some apprenticeships can offer a variety of supports for the apprentice, including opportunities to go to college or to receive college credits at no cost.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, other benefits of apprenticeship include:

• Hands-on career training. Apprentices receive practical on-the-job training in a wide range of occupations and industries such as healthcare, construction, information technology, transportation, energy and advanced manufacturing.
• An education. Apprentices may be able to earn college credit toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
• A career. Once the apprenticeship is complete, workers are on their way to a successful long-term career with a competitive salary and little or no educational debt.
• National credential. When an apprentice graduates from a career training program, they earn a certified portable credential accepted by industries and employers across the U.S.
  Source: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers

Some apprenticeships even offer:

• Housing
• Transportation
• Equipment
• Childcare

What to Know About Registered Apprenticeships

There are many benefits to an apprenticeship:

• You get paid as soon as the apprenticeship starts and are eligible for pay increases as you learn more skills.
• You get to do meaningful work.
• You can grow your personal and professional network.
• You can work in a career field that you’re interested in.
• You can build your resume (soft and technical skills).

Ready to get started? The U.S. Department of Labor offers a search tool to help you discover apprenticeship opportunities in your area in an industry that interests you. To find the apprenticeship that's right for you:

• Visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-job-finder
• Enter keywords to search for careers that interest you, like Automotive Technician, Nurse Aide, Claims Adjuster, or others.
• Enter your location.
• Select Search.

This will bring up a list of apprenticeships in your area. You can browse the listings to learn more about the skills and responsibilities you'll learn during an apprenticeship. Some listings may also include specific information about training and certifications that apprentices will complete.

Looking for more ways to find a job? Join us May 22, 2024, for our next webinar: “Expanding Your Job Search with Ticket to Work.”

How Can Ticket to Work Help?

Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment, including apprenticeships, as they move toward financial independence.

Your Ticket Program service provider can help you search for an apprenticeship that matches your career goals, review your resume and application for a specific position, and offer interview-preparation assistance to help you increase your chances of being accepted into an apprenticeship. Once you start working, an Employment Network (EN) may offer continuous supports to help you succeed in the workplace, including assistance with requesting a reasonable accommodation if you need one due to your disability.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket Program, visit choosework.ssa.gov or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, call our TTY at 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar. Or text TICKET to 1-571-489-5292 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.