The German Skills Initiative visited local JATC facility to discuss development of training programs to address businesses’ needs today
The JATC’s apprenticeship program was presented to German officials as a model of a successful career training program in America.
On May 9th, representatives from the German Embassy, accompanied by officials from the State of Maryland and the Federal Government, held the Initiative’s work group at the Washington, D.C. Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) in Lanham, Md.
The JATC is sponsored by the Electrical Alliance, a cooperative effort between the Washington, D.C. Chapter of National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26.
The German Embassy’s Skills Initiative aims to pair the needs of German and American businesses with local education and training providers. Through this collaboration, it hopes to expand vocational programs to serve the needs of businesses and promote best practices in “sustainable workforce development,” a focus of the initiative. The program aspires to boost job creation across the two countries.
JATC Director David McCord provided an overview of the apprenticeship program and stressed that the job of a training facility is “making a difference in people’s lives.” The electrical apprenticeship program offers several benefits. “Earn while you learn” is a popular theme of the program that offers a salary of $44,700 to first-year apprentices with no tuition and full health benefits. After completion of the five-year program, graduates receive a starting salary of $84,800.
From the U.S. Department of Labor, the Administrator for the National Registered Apprenticeship Program, John V. Ladd, said, “The IBEW /NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Center in Lanham epitomizes the ‘Earn and Learn’ model of Registered Apprenticeship by offering not only world-class, on-the-job training, but state-of-the-art classroom instruction opportunities as well.” German representatives were impressed with the quality of the training and the facility as a whole.
A study by Mathematica was discussed that focused on the overall benefit and effectiveness of apprenticeship programs. Maryland registered apprentices, on average, earn $15,000 more than non-participants, one the highest gains in the country. Ladd added that the Lanham JATC “offers the best our system has to offer in innovation, training techniques, and strategies.”
Electricians employed by Electrical Alliance contractors undergo a meticulous three- or five-year accredited telecommunications or electric apprenticeship that includes intensive classroom and on-site work. Once completed, journeymen electricians are constantly provided with continuing education on new processes that readies them for work on tomorrow’s systems. Learn more about the JATC at www.washdcjatc.org.
