Amid rising student debt and lack of needed skills, York County students learn on the job

FORT MILL - One student works in accounting, the other in manufacturing. Both are taking steps to prepare for the future.
Nation Ford High School student Jessie Whyte, 16, is learning to assemble tax returns and work with clients at the Bernie N. Ackerman CPA firm in Rock Hill. “It’s a real world experience. It’s not like in school where everything is given to you,” she said. “I’ve grown up a lot.”Through Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the S.C. Technical College System, employers sponsor apprenticeships, providing on-the-job training to help students forge a career path, according to the program’s website. Apprenticeships are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and meet national training standards. Employers receive a $1,000 tax credit for each registered apprentice employed for at least seven months.