These programs are designed to meet the growing workforce demands across the Greater Houston area, particularly in the construction industry, said Christian Robinson, executive director of Work-Based Learning and Industry Partnerships at HCC.
“We are working hard to strengthen workforce readiness by partnering with employers and labor organizations to expand access to career training and increase the pipeline of skilled workers in these essential fields,” Robinson said in the release.
How it works
Since 2024, the college’s Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub has been recognized by the U.S Department of Labor to administer registered apprenticeships, meaning that students’ skill progression is tracked, they are assigned a mentor and they are paid, according to the release.
The Hub works with industry partners from across the region to match students to employers, Robinson said in an interview with Community Impact. In the construction industry, students are usually placed right after they complete their apprenticeships.
“When the construction projects are happening, [students are] getting placed right [away] and right now, Houston, Galveston, the whole region, is very hot on construction projects,” Robinson said.
Robinson said not all partners are listed on the website, but the Hub continues to add partners weekly.
The details
The plumbing and sheet metal apprenticeships last five years, while the electrical technology apprenticeship lasts four to five years, Robinson said in an email.
The starting apprentice receives an increasing percentage of the wages they would receive after having completed the apprenticeship, Robinson said.
Apprentices also receive fringe benefits including group insurance, a pension plan, vacation and savings fund, and tool rental, Robinson said. However, during the first two years, they do not receive pension benefits.
Who’s eligible
The grant will be applied towards the first year of apprenticeship for 550 students who apply by this summer, Robinson said. After that, HCC will work with the apprentices to ensure they can complete their studies.
Robinson said in an email that the following qualifications will apply for entry to the apprenticeship programs:
- Over the age of 18
- Employment eligibility in the U.S.
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Physically fit to handle the job
- Have mobility to transport themselves to construction sites
Applicants can learn more and apply at www.hccs.edu/apprenticeship, according to the release.
Zooming out
As workforce demands continue to evolve, apprenticeships have provided a benefit to both employers and job seekers by offering hands-on experience while fostering career skills, HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said in the release.
“Apprenticeships are becoming a top employee recruitment tool for businesses as well as a meaningful learning experience for potential workers,” Fisher said. “As part of our mission, HCC is providing pathways to success for motivated job seekers of all ages and backgrounds.”
As of April, the college has an enrollment of 2,849 trade apprentices, Robinson said. While construction and logistics are also major industries that inform HCC’s offerings, Robinson said health care remains the primary employer for many of its programs, including phlebotomy, Certified Nursing Assistant and Sterilized Processing Technician.
“Logistics [and] supply chain [industries] continues to grow, but health care...is number one,” Robinson said.
Looking ahead
The college will be hosting a National Apprenticeship Day event April 30, bringing together industry leaders, apprentices, educators and workforce experts to explore how apprenticeships shape the future workforce, Robinson said.
