Youth Apprenticeship “American Style” and Career Development

As America's occupational society moves from a low skills to a high wages nature, the popularity of both work-based learning in general and youth apprenticeship in particular is growing rapidly. Both counseling and counselors in educational settings are currently being downplayed, and job mentors are being played up by leaders in the youth apprenticeship movement. The need to counsel persons regarding a variety of forms of postsecondary education is growing rapidly. The counseling profession should become actively involved in meeting this need with respect to all forms of work-based learning. The challenges are especially great with respect to youth apprenticeship programs.