PORTLAND, Maine — This week is National Apprenticeship Week, and when it comes to building a career, an apprenticeship could be a good first step.
The Maine Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Program has registered more than 850 apprentices this year, up from about 460 last year, according to its director, Joan Dolan.
Having been the director for more than 10 years, Dolan said enrollment in the program has increased over 150% since she started.
"It's just a really great way to attract, train and retain a skilled workforce," she said. "I think a lot of people think [the program] is a lot of 17 or 18-year-olds, and that’s not the case."
The program creates a pipeline to careers for new Mainers, adults who want a career change, or young students trying to find what their passion is. Dolan said the average age of an apprentice is 29.
Sama Essohouna had been living in Brazil and working in carpentry until he moved to Maine about two years ago.
Originally from West Africa, Essohouna said he was bouncing between short term jobs until he found an outlet to get acclimated in carpentry here, by enrolling in the Maine Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs.
"The job of the U.S. is a little different of Africa," Essohouna said. "I want to get more experience in construction."
He started in a four-week pre-apprenticeship program and is now an apprentice working in the Carpenters Union.
"I could tell right away he knew what he was talking about, but he just needed certain certifications," Sam Boss, the Maine AFL-CIO's Apprenticeship and Workforce equity director said.
Boss said the pre-apprenticeship program especially helps to get more people from underrepresented backgrounds into careers in building and construction trades.
Dolan said more than 450 businesses across the state are part of the Apprenticeship Program to help businesses train and recruit employees.
"It used to be that employers would put up a hiring sign and they'd had 20 applicants for one job or maybe even more than 20 applicants, and now we all know that the signs are going up and the applicants aren't coming," Dolan said. "So creating those pathways and letting people know that you're willing to invest in them will help your business thrive."
The Apprenticeship Program has apprenticeships in more than 20 occupations.