Program expansion will now include developing Registered Apprenticeships in seven sectors
The ApprenticeshipNH program continues to grow in the Granite State, adding automotive and biomedical technology to bring the number of workforce sectors served through the program to seven. Through the Registered Apprenticeship program, individuals interested in pursuing careers related to automotive and biomedical technology “earn-while-you-learn” through a combination of classroom instruction with one of the seven colleges in the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) and receive on-the-job training with a workforce partner who hires the apprentice.
Created in 2017, the ApprenticeshipNH program seeks to address workforce needs in high-demand sectors throughout the state, including advanced manufacturing, construction & infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality and information technology. To date, hundreds of New Hampshire residents have participated in the program and those who have completed apprenticeships have expanded their skills and knowledge and seen increased wages. The grant-funded program is run by CCSNH.
“We are excited to build off of the successful model for ApprenticeshipNH and add two more critical sectors of the workforce to the program. These are growth areas for our economy and offer career advancement opportunities and good incomes. When combined with our experience across the community college system of offering training programs in automotive and biomedical technology, we are confident that our programs will be a win-win for employers and apprentices,” said Emily Zeien, grant manager for ApprenticeshipNH.
Automotive technology in New Hampshire
There has been a consistent demand for qualified automotive technicians across New Hampshire. Customized training programs are built into an NH automotive technology apprenticeship to help individuals develop and fine-tune the skills they need for in-demand jobs, or to advance within the automotive profession. Automotive technology has been one of the primary programs at several community colleges across the state and the colleges have long-standing partnerships with automotive dealerships. Focusing on entry-level technicians, the automotive technology Registered Apprenticeship program offers another approach to the industry’s workforce development needs, especially for small businesses and auto care centers.
Biomedical technology in New Hampshire
The biomedical technology sector is at the forefront of developing life-saving services and treatments. Rapidly evolving biomedical technology offers rewarding career and advancement opportunities for people with a wide variety of skills and backgrounds. Existing training programs across CCSNH – including a state-of-the-art, nationally recognized biotechnology program at Great Bay Community College – have focused on providing workforce training and skills development that can be weaved into an NH biomedical technology apprenticeship. Employment opportunities include biomanufacturing technicians, quality control inspectors and technicians and purification operators for the pharmaceutical industry. Occupations in the medical device industry include technicians/assemblers, equipment calibrators and quality control technicians. There also is an increasing demand for medical, dental and clinical technicians.
Both sectors offer starting salaries that are more than double New Hampshire’s minimum wage. The median hourly wage for automotive technicians is $20.70 or $43,060 per year.
Opportunities are wide-ranging, with 43% of the jobs in motor vehicle and parts dealers, 34% in repair and maintenance shops and another 11% are self-employed. The average entry hourly wage in NH for biomedical technicians is $17.81 with a median wage of $24.23. The industry has a projected growth rate through 2026 of 10.7% annually.
