What is the Midlands Youth Apprenticeship Program?

The Midlands Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) is a program which is designed to help create a talent pipeline for area businesses while creating a viable work place path for students after high school.

Students involved in the Youth Apprenticeship Program take normal high school classes and at the same time attend Midlands Technical College two to three days a week in dual enrollment classes. At the end of a two-year program, students will have earned a high school diploma, certification in a specific field from Midlands Tech, credentialing from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.  The businesses who participate in this program will have created a potential employee who is ready on day one to work in the specialized positions that their company requires.

Students in Lexington One, Lexington Five, Richland One, and Richland Two school districts are currently able to participate.

How Businesses Could Benefit

Trade-based businesses are struggling to fill jobs with skilled workers. From 2014 to 2024, the Midlands health care and social assistance industry should see an increase of 8,510 jobs, or 20.72% (from 41,075 to 49,585). This industry will experience the most growth in employment in the Midlands over this time period. Looking more closely at the greater Columbia area, graduation rate is as low as 78% while Greenville’s graduation rate is 87%.

The MYA program fulfills a need expressed by businesses for skilled workers and equips a high school student with a job that can provide a solid and stable foundation upon which to build a prosperous life.

For questions or if interested, please contact Susan McPherson by email.

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