Page 45 - SKILLS Workforce Development Guide 2021

For many young people, a four- year college degree does not represent an investment in their future. Instead, it’s an unnecessary expense. Given the soaring costs of a college
education, resulting student debt and the ever-changing nature of the American economy, many high school graduates are interested in alternatives to a traditional
bachelor’s degree.
These alternatives include apprenticeships, associate’s degrees, certificate programs, and career and technical education. Here in Westchester, students can take advantage of a wide variety of such alternatives without straying far from their backyard.
“For students just coming out of high school, a lot of guidance counselors seem to forget about the trades and are just pushing kids to college,” says Thomas Carey, President of the Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body. Apprenticeship programs offered through local trade unions — which
teach career skills on the job — could serve as an essential alternative to a costly college education. Apprentices “don’t have any college debt, and they learn a trade that they can use throughout their life — whether it is as a welder, a blueprint reader, or a draftsperson,” he says.
A variety of local unions have apprenticeship programs, including Carey’s Local 21 of the United Association, which consists of plumbers, steamfitters, and HVAC technicians. Because so many college students end up saddled with years of debt, he has seen the popularity of such programs rise recently. He notes that he has been busy interviewing applicants from across the county. “It’s definitely a wide variety of people,” says Carey. “I did my first set of interviews yesterday, and they were from every ethnicity and every part of Westchester. I’m glad that word is getting out. We had 240 applications, and we’re only taking in 20 kids.”
COLLEGES OFFER ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES, CERTIFICATIONS
In addition to the hands-on training offered through apprenticeships, there are many college offerings that take less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree. They include associate’s degrees and certificate programs.
“We partner with educational institutions, primarily Westchester Community College, to offer options for our customers and job seekers who are not seeking a four- year degree,” says Thom Kleiner, executive director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board in White Plains. “We also partner with Southern Westchester BOCES on a variety of certification programs and vocational
Top of page: Second-year apprentice Kansas Carey.
Above: Apprentices David Diggle and Ashley Whisker working on a job in Yorktown.
What’s Hot. What’s Next. What’s Needed. SKILLS 43
© Courtesy of Thomas Carey © Courtesy of Thomas Carey