By Gwen Kervin, Regional Economist

Whether someone is just starting out in their career or pivoting to a new one, apprenticeships and certifications provide opportunities to gain valuable credentials that boost earning power while demanding smaller time commitments and expense than traditional degree programs. 

Apprenticeships typically pair a novice with an experienced mentor or mentors for on-the-job learning and training, allowing the apprentice to earn income while building their skills. This model allows apprentices to access a direct pathway to employment while avoiding taking on student debt.

Certifications are more akin to traditional degree programs, but with generally shorter time commitments and more job-focused completion requirements. Occupation-specific certification programs help employers match applicants with the skills relevant for the job. They can also give job applicants a competitive edge and provide avenues for career advancement. Moreover, students who have earned a degree can also bolster their resume by adding a certificate that demonstrates a specific skill set. 

Apprenticeships and certifications often work hand in hand. Several higher education institutions work with current apprentices, or those seeking to become apprentices, to provide opportunities to gain technical knowledge in their fields by earning certifications. For example, Salt Lake Community College offers training for electrical, low voltage technician and plumbing apprentices that allow attainment of certifications in those fields. Similarly, Weber State University’s construction apprenticeship program allows students who have completed or are in the process of completing an apprenticeship to earn their associate’s degree. They also connect individuals interested in technology jobs with local industry through their technology apprenticeship program.

Ensuring that a worker has the appropriate skills is essential when employers are weighing job candidates. According to the annual Occupational Requirements Survey published by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), credential requirements vary greatly depending upon the occupation. Healthcare practitioners and medical technician workers have the highest credential requirements, with 95.9% of all jobs in the field requiring some kind of job credential. Other fields with high levels of credential requirements include protective service occupations at 83.3% and legal occupations at 75.0%.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship opportunities have been increasing in Utah. The Department of Workforce Services has a Commissioner of Apprenticeship Programs and staff who work to help employers set up registered apprenticeships and connect apprentices to employers. A total of 4,731 active apprentices participated in 287 programs throughout the state in 2024, an increase of 15% from 2020. While there are many opportunities for people just out of high school, the average entry age of apprentices in Utah is 30 years old, indicating that many begin apprenticeships a bit later in life.

Although 63% of registered apprenticeships are in the construction industry, the apprenticeship commissioner is working to expand apprenticeship opportunities to other fields. Together, apprenticeships in manufacturing, utilities and transportation and warehousing employ 19% of registered apprentices.

Utah’s strong economy and population growth is expected to drive employment in construction in the coming years. The sector is expected to grow annually by 3.0%, adding a total of 44,580 jobs between 2022 and 2032. Apprentices often earn a lower “learning wage” while in training and can expect to see their wages grow as they gain skills. In 2024, apprentices in construction earned an average hourly wage of $21.49, compared to an average statewide hourly wage of $32.93.

Manufacturing, which is expected to add 25,180 jobs between 2022 and 2032, accounted for 8% of registered apprenticeship programs in 2024 in Utah. While apprentices earned an average hourly wage of $20.52 in manufacturing jobs, on average the sector pays $35.13, and those with in-demand skills can earn even more. 

While employment growth in the utilities industry is expected to be largely flat, the sector employs a large number of older Utahns, thus there are likely to be more job openings as people retire. The sector pays apprentices an average hourly wage of $31.64, compared to average industry wages of $48.55.

Many occupations span industries. For example, electricians, an occupation that has long used the apprenticeship model for training new entrants, can be found in manufacturing, construction and utilities. Electricians are also in relatively high demand. Between 2022 and 2032, approximately 4,970 new positions are expected to be created in the state. Electricians earn an average hourly wage of $28.73, with those at the higher end making $38.17. Carpenters, who can be found in both the manufacturing and construction sectors, earn an average hourly wage of $24.68, with those at the high end bringing in $34.01. Carpenters are expected to add approximately 4,770 new positions between 2022 and 2032. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who are often employed in the utilities sector, earn an average hourly wage of $28.62, with those at the high end making $39.91. Approximately 2,155 new positions for this occupation are expected to be created between 2022 and 2032.

Certificates

Certificates concentrate on a specific field of expertise and are awarded by a higher education institution. The options are extensive, ranging from nursing assistants to hairstylists. Since 2020, the number of certificates completed in Utah has risen 78%. Completions of certificates that take less than a year to attain rose 64% from 2020 to 2024 and accounted for 43% of all certificate completions. Completions of longer-term certificates requiring between one and two years accounted for 57% of total certificates and increased by 90% since 2020. 

The variety of industries that certificate graduates end up in is more diversified than what is seen with apprentices. According to the occupational requirements survey published by the BLS, healthcare occupations have the highest credentialing requirements. Thus, it is unsurprising that 14% of certificate graduates work in the healthcare and social assistance industry. The largest share of certificate graduates work in retail trade, which pulls in graduates from many different certificate programs. Some earn certificates in culinary, entertainment and personal services, while others earn certificates in computer and information support services.   

Obtaining a certificate allows graduates to increase their earnings potential. For some programs, such as those in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting, a large part of the wage increases can be seen one year after graduation. However, in most cases those gains become apparent after five years as certificates can allow someone to qualify for a job with high growth potential that would otherwise be out of reach. The largest jump between earnings increases five years after graduation and one year after graduation can be seen in graduates with certificates in business, management, marketing and related services. Such wage gains after several years on the job exemplifies the kind of life-changing outcomes that can accompany entry into promising career fields made more attainable by certificate completion. 

Those with certificates in computer and information support services also see a jump in their earnings between one and five years after graduation. Computer support specialists are in high demand across industries and earn an average hourly wage of $32.83, with higher earners bringing in $51.85. These jobs are expected to see strong growth as well, with approximately 2,300 new positions in this field being added between 2022 through 2032.

Wrap Up

Apprenticeships and certificates can create more economic opportunities for Utahns seeking to enter new jobs or progress in their careers, allowing them to increase their earnings potential by bolstering their skillset and granting them relevant credentials. The variety of apprenticeships is increasing, allowing a larger portion of the local population to benefit from these opportunities. The number of certificates available within the state are on the rise as well. 

Those interested in apprenticeship opportunities can visit the Apprenticeship Utah website. Occupational information for Utah including forecasts, earnings potential, and typical educational requirements, are available from the Department of Workforce Services. Information regarding outcomes of those earning certificates can be found on the Utah System of Higher Education website or the Census’ Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer.