b'APPRENTICESHIPS ARE THE PATHWAY TO IN- retention," says Michelle Gilkey, director of Marketing,DEMAND CAREERS IN THE SKILLED TRADES Learning, and Product for the Western ElectricalContractors Association (WECA). The California-based organization offers commercial,residential, and low voltage electrical apprenticeshipprograms. For journeyperson electricians and low voltagetechnicians, WECA also offers continuing education classes. Gilkey notes that the industry is growing and as a sign ofthat demand, WECA has recently expanded to Arizona,offering a commercial electrical apprenticeship programand continuing education for journeyperson electricians.One Womans JourneyThis changed my life around 180 degrees, says Demi Zayas,the valedictorian of her 2018 WECA commercialapprenticeship class.Zayas, a single mom, was working as a server in 2013 whenshe found a sponsor to hire her as an apprentice and payfor her training. You go to work for six months and get on-the-job training. Then you go to school for two weeks. Andyou repeat that for five years, explains Zayas.Initially, she earned $16 an hour with health care andsavings benefits. By the time she graduated, her payincreased to $50 an hour. Now, she works for an electricalAs seen in Working Nation on May 20, 2021 by Laura contracting company and reports her salary at $72 an hour.AkaZayas is trying to make sure that other women and youngAs unemployed Americans across the country are figuring girls know that apprenticeships are an alternative option toout ways to rejoin the workforce, the skilled trades is a path a college degree. I remember when I was in middle schoolto consider. and high school, four-year degrees were the only option.That was what was put in front of you. That was what was"The sector can be an opportunity for people looking for pushed, says Zayas.work, especially those who have little to no experience inthe skilled trades and need job training, according to a new Among electricians, women are in the minority, and thatsreport from PeopleReady, an on-demand talent provider. where WECA sees opportunity. Echoing Zayas, Gilkey says,We do very much try to do a lot of outreach to populationsThe analysis says helper and apprentice-level opportunities who arent traditionally electricians. We do a lot of outreachacross the country in the tradesincluding plumbing, to women, veterans, career changers to make sure everyoneroofing, carpentry, and electricare taking about a month to understands that this great career is available to them."fill. The findings indicate the job vacancies are due largely tobaby boomers retiring from the sector.Apprenticeships Provide OpportunityLearning skills via apprenticeship is gaining traction,according to the Department of Labor. The agency reports a70% increase in the number of apprentices since 2011.Despite a decline due to the pandemic, the tally for thefiscal year ending in June 2020 is the third highest for theRegistered Apprenticeship Program.We absolutely hear that theres a shortage of skilledworkers. That employers are eager and constantly hiring. They are trying to do their best to compete in hiring and'