Commentary: PBS NewsHour Highlights BMW Apprenticeship Program in South Carolina

The June 5, 2014 edition of PBS NewsHour included a great Making Sense segment by Paul Solman on the apprenticeship program developed by BMW at their Spartanburg, South Carolina plant.  There, students can work, receive training and even get paid while taking classes. As you will see when watching the story, manufacturing isn't the dirty industry it used to be. The plant, which produces over 1,200 luxury SUVs a day, is full of robots.  However, it also employs over 8,000 workers, including some to maintain and repair the robots. This is a model apprenticeship program that should be replicated more here in the U.S. It gives employers a good source of qualified workers and opens doors of opportunity to those who cannot afford or choose not to invest in a four year degree and helps them experience success in school and in the workplace. This is a far more effective way of improving income equality than raising the minimum wage and deserves more attention.