How pre-apprenticeship programs jolt students’ careers

Arizona’s employers are addressing the ever widening gap in skilled labor, currently being accelerated by the retirement of Baby Boomers, by turning to the next generation. Combined with the explosion of major construction projects in the Valley, educators alongside employers are building new ways to introduce young people to the trades. From high school dual-credit programs to university-led pre-apprenticeship tracks, a growing network of pathways is helping students earn college credit, industry exposure and hours toward certification long before they enter the workforce.

A key example in the Valley is the partnership between Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Rosendin, the country’s largest employee-owned electrical contractor.

According to John Loukusa, Vice President of Field Operations at Rosendin, the Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians Pathway is creating meaningful opportunities for students to understand both the technical and human sides of the electrical trade.

Rosendin works with GCU’s Center for Workforce Development Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians Pathway program to offer students valuable real-world experience. “We’ve been working with Grand Canyon University over the last few years,” Loukusa explains. “It provides kids or young adults an opportunity to pre-apprenticeship and get some college credits.”

In 2022, GCU and Rosendin created the four-course, Pre-Apprenticeship pathway that prepares students for an Employer Apprenticeship Program in the State of Arizona. Since the 16-credit program was introduced hundreds of students have started careers in the commercial construction industry.

At Rosendin’s training center, students get more than a classroom overview, they’re exposed to the tools and environment that define electrical work. During field days, students handle conduit, wire, and other components while learning basic electrical theory from experienced professionals.

Loukusa says the intent is simple: give young people a real look at the craft early.

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Students who complete GCU’s program can apply to Rosendin’s full apprenticeship, which is run jointly with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“They’re able to apply through our apprenticeship program,” Loukusa notes how streamlined entering the workforce can be after going through Rosendin’s program.

“There has been a big emphasis on the soft skills side,” Loukusa says. “How do you interact with people? How do you receive directions? How do you ask questions?” While technical skills are crucial, Loukusa emphasizes that Rosendin puts equal weight on soft skills, especially communication and safety awareness.

Because construction work can be dangerous, Rosendin wants students to know how to speak up when something isn’t clear. “Are they comfortable asking the question when they don’t understand what they’re being asked to do? Or when they’re not proficient in the task and need additional information?” Loukusa says. 

This emphasis on well-rounded education extends beyond the university program. Rosendin regularly engages with similar high school programs across the state, including West-MEC and EVIT, and typically participates in Arizona Construction Career Days, an event that draws thousands of students. This year’s event was canceled due to the government shutdown, but the company continues to seek ways to reach young learners.

“We’re just trying to raise awareness in every opportunity we can,” Loukusa says. 

Loukusa believes that one of the biggest hurdles is shifting outdated mindsets about what success looks like after high school.

Over the past several decades, he says, the educational system has emphasized college enrollment above all else.  “If we look at the history of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, there was this huge push that college was the only path forward,” he says. “And we’re saying, ‘Hey, college isn’t the path for everyone.’”  High school counselors, he adds, are often measured by college enrollment numbers, not long-term career outcomes. 

“It kind of works against society as a whole,” says Loukusa, “where we’re measuring the wrong things instead of saying, ‘Are they advancing into society in a good way?’”

Partnerships, like the one between GCU and Rosendin, offer an alternative, students can gain exposure to the trades, develop hands-on skills and still pursue higher education if they choose.

“It gives them this awareness, and they’re also attending college during this time as well,” Loukusa says.

While the focus is on the trades, Loukusa emphasizes that an electrical apprenticeship can be the starting point for many different careers within Rosendin. “We have a lot of careers outside of the trades,” he adds. “This may be their entry path but we have folks who come through on the trade side that become project managers, move into safety, learning and development or workforce development.”

Regardless of where students land, early exposure and hands-on experience can be transformative and is the end goal.

“There’s all kinds of paths they can take along the way,” Loukusa says. “It’s about opening those doors.”