Apprenticeships: why this is the right path towards your future career

The best way to cope in this rapidly changing world is to ensure a high level of skills and equal opportunities. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to help young people move from education and training into jobs. They benefit companies and society by building a productive workforce, boosting employment, reducing the need for social security and increasing social inclusion.

2 in 3 people get hired immediately after they finish an apprenticeship

The transferable skills you acquire through an apprenticeship, will make you more employable on the job market. You get valuable work experience that you can put on your CV, and good contacts in the industry or sector that can help you start your career. There are many different types of apprenticeships available across a whole range of industry sectors. It’s all about picking the industry that interests you the most and suits your skills. If you are unsure where to start, use the Europass tool to better understand your skills and learn how to communicate them clearly.

Companies value skills such as communication, IT, numeracy and teamwork – and the more you have to offer, the better your chances will be at landing a job. By the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll be able to add another qualification to your CV and present yourself as a knowledgeable and experienced professional to potential employers.

Apprenticeships give you a wide range of choice

When you are fresh out of high school, it can be difficult to decide exactly what you want to do in your life and career. It's a misconception that apprenticeships are situated only in specific areas such as construction, manufacturing or the hospitality industry. You can gain hands-on experience in a broad array of fields such as IT, marketing, finance and human resources. It is always helpful to broaden your horizons and find where your skills and interest best fit. More organisations than ever before are offering apprenticeship schemes as employers come to view this method of training as a viable alternative to a university degree.

The EU places great importance to the quality of apprenticeships

One of the main goals in the European Year of Youth 2022 is to create new opportunities for young people, and this would continue in 2023 with the European Year of Skills. The EU promotes apprenticeships through the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) and the Apprenticeship Support Service. Since the launch of EAfA in 2013, almost one million training and job opportunities for young people have been mobilised. The Alliance brings together stakeholders in employment and education to address the challenges and possible answers of how to strengthen the quality, supply and image of apprenticeships in Europe.

The European Apprentices Network (EAN) is a network of apprentices at European level, established in 2017 to make sure that the voice of young apprentices is heard in discussions related to vocational education and training (VET), in particular apprenticeships. EAN was created in cooperation of the European Youth Forum, OBESSU, and with the support of the European Commission.

Find you next apprenticeship with EURES

If you are interested in starting an apprenticeship, the EURES portal has a lot of opportunities and useful information. You can filter results by country and find the best option for your skills and interests: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1198&langId=en