By Kimberly Patrick, Coordinator, Career Ready Lancaster, a LCWD program

For Lancaster County employers, apprenticeship is a practical workforce strategy. Registered apprenticeship helps businesses develop talent, retain employees, transfer knowledge, and build stronger connections with local education partners. While many companies offer strong internal training programs, a registered apprenticeship provides a structured framework that outlines what skills will be learned, how progress will be measured, and what credential will be earned.

For job seekers, the model offers more than a general promise of training. Registered apprenticeship makes the pathway clear by answering important questions up front: What skills will I learn? How will my progress be measured? How long will it take? What credential will I earn? And what career opportunities can that credential help me pursue?

One of the most valuable benefits of apprenticeship is the ability to build talent from within. Instead of waiting for the perfect candidate to come along, employers can develop workers around their own equipment, processes, culture, and customer expectations. Apprentices learn the skills that matter most to the business.

The impact can be significant. Apprenticeships can help improve productivity, reduce turnover, support succession planning, and create a more reliable pipeline of qualified employees.

Apprenticeship can be especially valuable given the rate of retirement expected in the next 5-10 years across all industries in Lancaster County. As experienced employees retire or roles evolve, apprenticeships help preserve institutional knowledge and ensure critical skills are passed on. They also create a stronger sense of connection and loyalty among employees who can see a future for themselves within the organization. 94% of apprentices retain employment after completing a registered apprenticeship program.

Educators and training partners are essential to making these programs successful. Schools, career and technical centers, colleges, and other providers can help align classroom learning with the real needs of local employers. When business and education work together, students and job seekers gain clearer career pathways, and employers gain access to talent that better understands the expectations of the workplace.

Association of Builders and Contractors and Manufacturing Association of South Central PA, have built powerful apprenticeship models, ensuring that there is a pipeline of tradespeople. Whether in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, logistics, professional services, or another growing field, apprenticeships can help ensure companies have the skills they need now and in the future. Apprenticeship is growing across industries because students and job seekers are looking for alternatives to traditional career paths and employers are looking for ways to attract and retain talent.

For employers looking to strengthen their workforce pipeline, apprenticeship is a proven place to start. It supports the growth of individual employees while helping build stronger businesses, stronger industries, and a stronger Lancaster County economy. Employers do not need to navigate the registration process alone; the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board can help design and build a registered apprenticeship program.

If you are interested in learning more about registered apprenticeship, contact Kimberley Patrick, Workforce/Business Engagement Contact at kpatrick@lancastercountywib.com. Kimberley can help you decide if apprenticeship is right for your organization and can assist in the registration process.

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