More than one in ten apprentices in Ireland are over 31 years of age, and almost 40% are 23 or older, according to preliminary data gathered in a national survey of apprentices by the National Apprenticeship Office.
This represents a significant shift away from the traditional profile of the teenage apprentice.
The country now has 30,000 apprentices, compared to just 7,000 a decade ago.
The full findings of the survey are expected to be published in coming weeks.
“Recognising the profile of 21st century apprentices is a key to ensuring that their needs and ambitions are met in the design and delivery of apprenticeship programmes,” Director of the National Apprenticeship Office Dr Mary-Liz Trant said.
The growth of interest in apprenticeships was strongly on display at an apprenticeship fair held by Co Meath Chamber of Commerce in Trim yesterday, with thousands of school students and adults in attendance.
The annual event is aimed at putting employers in touch with potential apprentices.
Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless and Minister for Education Helen McEntee visited the exhibition.
“Apprenticeships are a really good pathway into the workforce, hands on literally at the early stages, and its a complementary pathway into an education and a career,” Mr Lawless said.
Daniel Danilowicz exemplifies today’s older apprentice. The apprentice motor mechanic is 35 years of age and a father-of-two.
He was at the event to explain to students what being an apprentice is all about.
“I was working in a bar thinking ‘This is not what I want to do for the rest of my life,'” he said.
“I was always around motorbikes and cars so I just went to the Volkswagen garage in Swords and asked ‘how do I do this?’ They signed me up, the very next week I quit my job, and I have never looked back.”
Also at the event was 20-year-old Ciara Condra who is an apprentice accounting technician. She spent one year at University of Limerick doing a business degree before she decided to change tack.
“I did get on really well at UL, but it was very far from home, I couldn’t play my football and I was really broke all the time. So I said I’d give an apprenticeship a go.”
Ciara spends one day a week in college and four days in the office. “It’s really good,” she said.
“I saw the ad for it and my dad said go for it,” said Mollie Morton Garry, by way of explaining how she has ended up working underground as an apprentice in construction plant fitting at Tara Mines.
“I knew I wanted an apprenticeship. I was used to working on machines and I absolutely love it,” she added.
Amid a severe skills shortage in many areas, the Chamber of Commerce says local employers have been telling them that they are desperate to find workers and to meet potential apprentices.
Pat Keating is managing director with Allied Retail Innovations and Solutions which does shop fit-outs. The company had a stand at the exhibition and was vying – free lollipops to the fore – with many other stands to lure students.
“We are looking for as many people as we can get in,” he said.
“We are currently offering 100 jobs, all starting off here in Trim. And we have a whole batch of apprentices that we are looking to take on immediately.”
A key attraction for would be apprentices is that you can ‘earn as you learn’. The rates of pay for apprentices vary depending on the employer. They can be anywhere between €250 per week to as much as €900 per week depending on the kind of apprenticeship and the level.
“We start off at around €10 an hour or sometimes up to €12 to €14 per hour,” Pat said.
“And it builds up every year to a very well-paid job at the end of it.”
Students from 60 schools as far away as Roscommon, Mayo and Laois, attended the fair. Lusk Community College students Oliver Sobczak and Airidas Striska chatted with Mr Danilowicz and examined model engines.
“I was looking into electrical engineering and motor mechanics,” said Oliver. “I like cars, so it is interesting,” said Airidas.
Chloe Keating Creagh from Coláiste Ríoga, who is curious about a healthcare apprenticeship, said: “I didn’t realise there were so many kinds of apprenticeships, like paramedics, hairdressing and cooking.
“I thought it was all to do with mechanics and carpentry.”
Jack Hanrahan, also from Lusk Community College, wants to be an electrician.
“My dad was an electrician and my granddad was, and I want to follow the family tradition,” he said. His classmate, Callan Robinson, says he is interested in carpentry.
What is Daniel Danilowicz’s advice?
“I would say just choose what you want to do. Because if you’re happy at your job, it’s not really a ‘job’, you are just enjoying what you do.
“Also, don’t focus on money, the money will come, you just need to do what you want to do.”
Apprenticeships blend direct work with study at college.
Mr Danilowicz said he was “never a ‘good’ student”, but the fact that when he is in class now he is studying something that he is passionate about makes all the difference.
“I never liked school. But now I wake up in the morning and think ‘College today! I’m so excited!’.”
