Training and Development - Essay Example

Argumentative Essay A Trades Apprenticeship, Compared to a Degree, Better Ensures Future Earnings in New Zealand Grade Name Date An apprenticeship refers to a type of formal education focused more on practical training and teaching, based on a certain set of skills, often by students or apprentices associating themselves with an experienced member of the said trade or skill. Some formal theoretical education might also be involved by enrolling in short or long courses in vocational training institutes, but it is not necessary and often not employed (Dawson, 2012).

A university degree, on the other hand, is a fixed period of formal education focusing more on theoretical framework and research with only a certain aspect of it being practical. University education focuses less on one particular trade or skill and is generally broader in the sense that it is more flexibly applicable. A business degree, for example, will be useful in a number of jobs and positions, not just as a ‘business associate’. Apprenticeships, on the other hand, are highly specific to one particular trade or skill, allowing the apprentice to achieve a high level of expertise and experience in the said trade or skill (Murray, 2001).

Another major difference between an apprenticeship and a university degree is that apprentices are often paid wages as they learn, whereas university students are not. As of December 2010, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Labor Group, New Zealand had 104,825 trade trainees and modern apprentices, while universities had 469,107 students enrolled. This shows the great increase in the number of students enrolled in industry training institutes and trade apprenticeships.

Minimum apprenticeship training wages are $10.40 an hour, which might be significantly higher than minimum wages for those not enrolled in formal education, but it should be kept in mind that these are preliminary wages paving the way for a much higher income in the future once the apprenticeship is completed. Taking all these statistics into consideration, it can be concluded that while a trade apprenticeship might not necessarily ensure higher earning than a university degree might have to offer, it does ensure to a certain extent the probability of earnings, whether high or low.

For one thing, an apprentice earns as soon as he or she begins training. For a university student, not only will they have to invest a considerable amount to acquire their degree but they will also have to wait 4 years before they can begin earning. Furthermore, trades are something that are unaffected by economic trends and changes (Hoover and Oshineye, 2009). Nurses, electricians, cooks, builders etc will always be needed, whatever changes the government might introduce or however world business trends might change.

The same cannot, however, be said for jobs that are more focused on degrees rather than skills or trades. The IT sector, for example, might be a lucrative market and business forerunner for a few years but might be overtaken by environmental initiatives in the next. As a result, university students often have to face uncertainty in their careers. Furthermore, there is a great level of competition for jobs acquired through formal degrees. These jobs are higher paying but far fewer in number and hence, there are several people vying for the same position.

Trade apprentices, however, do not need to worry about tough competition because it is unlikely that there will ever be an excess of a certain skill. Skills are needed in all walks of life, from the smallest villages to the largest metropolitan cities and hence, there will always be demand for a skilled trade apprentice to cater to those needs. The proof of this fact is evident in that the New Zealand government is investing 1.4 billion dollars into the trade apprenticeship and private companies industry (Percy, 2012), showing the future of and need for trade apprentices.

Finally, the greatest counter-argument to those advocating trade apprenticeships is how little there is avenue for growth and lower wages than a university degree can earn (Gill, 2008). While that may often be true, the fact is that there are incredible growth opportunities in a trade apprentice career, as is evidenced by the many private businesses successfully run by those with no formal university training. To summarize, I do agree that a trade apprenticeship better ensures future earnings in New Zealand, as compared to a university degree, based on the simple fact of the constant need for trades and skills, and how they are unaffected by worldwide economic or business trends.

There is little risk of unemployment and furthermore, trade apprentices earn as they learn, ensuring a steady income from the day they begin their careers. The same cannot unfortunately be said for university degrees, but they do, however, offer the probability of higher earnings in the long run. References Aaker, D. and McLoughlin, D., 2007. Strategic market management. European Edition. John Wiley & Sons. Dawson, C., 2012. Apprenticeships: for students, parents and job seekers. Oberon Books.

Hoover, D. and Oshineye, A., 2009. Apprenticeship patterns: guidance for the aspiring software craftsman. O’Reilly Media. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Labour Group, 2012. State of the labour market scorecard. [Online] Available at: www.mbie.govt.nz. Murray, N., 2001. A history of apprenticeship in New Zealand. Department of Social Science, Lincoln University. Percy, R., 2012. Is apprenticeship right for your career? [Online] 3 February. Available at: < http://careers.guardian.co.

uk/apprenticeships-guide?commentpage=all> [accessed at 20 October 2012].