Wanted: Harper apprentices to learn and earn

Harper College's Apprenticeship program is seeking applicants interested in earning a salary while learning the skills for a career and graduating with no debt.

Companies are currently in place to hire Harper apprentices in the advanced manufacturing fields of industrial maintenance mechanic, CNC precision machining and logistics/supply chain management. These flexible training programs combine job-related credit courses with structured on-the-job learning experiences.

Two recently released studies support the vast benefits of earning a college degree.

According to a survey of 960,000 people by online salary information provider PayScale, nearly half of U.S. workers identify themselves as underemployed. The groups most likely to feel underemployed were those who completed some college but did not get a degree, and those with only a high school diploma or GED but no college coursework.

And while the economy has created 11.6 million new jobs since the recession, 11.5 million have gone to workers with at least some education beyond high school, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce recently reported.

"Apprenticeships are beneficial to candidates who are looking for a job, underemployed, veterans, seeking a career change or wanting to gain further qualifications," said Dr. Rebecca Lake, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development. "Harper apprentices graduate debt-free with years' worth of work experience and a guaranteed job."

For more information, visit HarperAOD.org or call Harper's Office of Apprenticeship at (847) 925-6630.