In addition, trained workers are safer. Unskilled workers are more prone to injury and can increase a company's liability and workers' compensation premiums. One of the main goals of the program, and a big selling point for participating contractors, is to permanently hire promising students into an apprenticeship program upon their high school graduation. CITC hopes to expand the program into more school districts in the future. The economic return from college is a complex issue.
Education accounts for only some of the variation in individual earnings.
Supply and demand are the key factors. Professional jobs comprise only 20 percent of all occupations, a surprise to parents who believe their children, armed with a bachelor's degree, will be able to find a professional job. The fact is that there are not enough professional jobs to go around. Gary Darling, owner of Mastercraft Electric in Seattle has apprentices at all levels. First-year apprentices earn more than twice the minimum wage plus medical, dental, pension, training, vacation and holiday pay.