TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - There's a nationwide shortage of trade workers, specifically construction workers and our city is no exception.
We were at Lively Technical College, where there's going to be a meeting about the problem Tuesday night.
Leaders believe it could solve the trade occupation shortages in our area and across the nation.
An apprenticeship is when someone works for a company, receiving a normal paycheck but while also in school learning the same trade.
According to 2017 data, Florida is already taking advantage of these learning opportunities.
The Sunshine State is number 11 among states with the most active apprenticeships with more than 12,000.
The Director of Lively Tech, Shelly Bell, says this path gives people the opportunity to try out a career and still earn a paycheck.
"When we look locally at what are contractors are doing we know that they need more people to think about the construction trade as a viable occupation, so we are hoping by introducing the idea of apprenticeship that some people who hand't thought about construction could see this as a pathway," said Bell.
The meeting is hosted by Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce Construction Council in partnership with Leon County Schools.
The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. at Lively Technical College.
It is also free and open to the public.
