Did you know that there are 77 different apprenticeship programmes available across a wide range of industries, from technology and finance to healthcare and engineering? Here we look at some of those options.
The 'earn as you learn' model of apprenticeship means that you can get paid and gain valuable experience all while studying towards a recognised qualification. And, while workers in many industries worry about robots and AI taking their jobs, RTÉ Radio 1 Reporter Maura Fay spoke to Solas CEO Andrew Brownlee who says apprentices don't need to worry just yet.
The Leaving Cert class of 2025 and you can start looking into them before the CAO offers drop in August. Press play up top to listen now to hear Maura's report, and for more information on apprenticeship, visit the official site - apprenticeship.ie.
The Central Statistics Office reported recently that an apprentice who qualified in 2020 was earning a median weekly wage of €950 two years later highlighting the strong earning potential of this route. There are over 10,000 employers actively training apprentices.
The National Survey of Apprentices 2024, released earlier this year gathered feedback from over 5,500 apprentices and we have some of the highlights here.
Young people said that the top three reasons they chose apprenticeship are first and foremost to get into a specific career. Plus, as mentioned, they wanted to learn while earning at the same time and they wanted to gain a major qualification.
More from the survey:
- 94% of respondents said that apprenticeship provided them with good career opportunities.
- 85% of respondents said that they were pleased they chose the apprenticeship route over other study or work options.
- 85% of respondents said their employer is supportive of their development in the workplace.
- 84% of respondents said that their apprenticeship gave them confidence in their ability to learn.
The survey underscores the vital role apprenticeships play in equipping people with the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. It also highlights the substantial benefits apprenticeships deliver to employers, helping to build a skilled and adaptable talent pipeline. And there are always new programmes coming on stream.
Recently added programmes include:
- Digital Marketing L6
- Horticulture L6
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineering L8
- Farm Technician L6
- Farm Manager L7
In addition, there are 28 new programmes under development which include:
- Robotics and Automation L6
- Data Analytics Associate L6
- Software Tester L6
Get more highlights from National Survey Of Apprentices 2024 here.
Keep an eye on RTÉ Learn for more information and options for the class of 2025 over the coming weeks.
