November 12-18, 2018 The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and is working to expand apprenticeship opportunities across the country.

 Washington, DC (November 9, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced that National Apprenticeship Week will be held this year November 12-18, 2018. With over 150,000 employers offering apprenticeships in more than 1,000 occupations across the country, apprenticeship has trained millions of Americans for over 80 years. National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide opportunity for companies, trade and industry groups, nonprofit organizations, unions, labor-management organizations, and educational institutions to highlight how apprenticeships prepare American workers for the jobs of today and the future.

Apprenticeships provide demand-driven education, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn—and helping to close the gap between the skills job creators seek and job seekers have. The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is using this opportunity to highlight the great work local organizations across the country are doing to expand apprenticeship programs.

Over its 10-year history, the National Fund’s network—along with employer and local partners—has supported 5,000 registered apprentices and 10,0000 individuals developing their skills in an on-the-job training program.

“Apprenticeship is truly a customized training approach that allows apprentices to learn through a combination of on-the-job training, related instruction, mentoring, and a wage scale that increases as apprentices ‘earn and learn’ through their apprenticeship,” said Dr. Pam Howze, program director for work-based learning at the National Fund.

“Apprenticeship programs build internal loyalty and apprentices are able to be productive early on because of the focused and customized training process. Even though apprenticeships have been a tried-and-true training program for hundreds of years, there is a renewed interest in apprenticeships in the U.S. in a variety of sectors to include hospitality, advanced manufacturing, child care, healthcare, IT and cybersecurity.”

Throughout the week, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and its partners will showcase and inform about their efforts to expand apprenticeship, ensuring a pipeline of qualified future apprentices are available to meet growing demand for qualified workers in non-traditional apprenticeship industries such as healthcare, financial services, information technology and hospitality. Their goal is to foster new and innovative strategies tailored to specific regions and their growing industries. To support this goal, the National Fund provides technical assistance that supports individual efforts to expand apprenticeships.

 

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About The National Fund for Workforce Solutions

The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a national network promoting equitable economic opportunity and prosperous communities through investment and innovation. Based in Washington D.C., the National Fund partners with philanthropy, employers, workers, public and private community organizations and more than 30 regional collaboratives to invest in skills, improve systems and generate good jobs. The National Fund supports civic and business leaders in promoting evidence-based practices and policies that build shared prosperity. Learn more about the National Fund and its local partners at www.NationalFund.org