Apprenticeship and Rural Colorado
Exploring Benefits, Barriers, and the Role of Regional Intermediaries
Youth apprenticeship programs are a talent pipeline builder, a social mobility tool, and a workforce development strategy - but their potential for impact faces many constraints in rural communities.
In rural communities where talent shortages are hard felt and increasing costs of living force many students out of the communities they grew up in, youth apprenticeships can leverage students’ connection to place and truly represent a “grow your own” talent strategy for economic development. Youth apprenticeships offer unique value propositions to employers, apprentices themselves, and the communities where they live.
Read this report on youth apprenticeships in Colorado state to learn how public schools, institutions of hire education, and employers can collaborate to hire entry level candidates who can “skill up” rapidly and are boosted with extra supports that traditional employees don’t have.