Apprenticeship programs for much-needed job skills (e.g. software engineering) are a great alternative to four-year schools, and are successfully used in many countries.
Apprenticeship programs:
- Immediately create jobs for otherwise unqualified workers
- Expand the pool of qualified labor over time
- Allow the apprentice to avoid large education debts.
- Lead to highly-skilled workers that can fill many of the vacant jobs in our economy.
The government should look at ways to encourage small and large businesses to create apprenticeship programs.