APRIL 2024
As we start to enjoy spring, a host of activities have taken place that showcase the dynamic growth and increased visibility of our National Apprenticeship System. From apprenticeship-themed heritage month events, to transformational investments and policies supporting apprenticeships in clean energy, to innovative training opportunities for apprenticeship and workforce professionals, the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) continues its work to diversify and expand the apprenticeship ecosystem.
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In Michigan at the end of last month, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su joined Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (pictured above) to announce new training guidelines for apprentices and workers in battery manufacturing. This will prepare workers to get into good union jobs while working towards the clean energy transition, as well as helping ensure America’s businesses and workers remain at the forefront of the global economy. Acting Secretary Su also met with women working in clean energy, highlighting the need to make sure everyone has an opportunity to help build our clean energy future. To learn more about Registered Apprenticeship and the Biden Administration's "Investing in America" agenda, please visit this web page on Apprenticeship.gov.
LESS THAN 10 DAYS UNTIL THE INAUGURAL YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
Get ready! The inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW) is JUST around the corner. This year’s celebration will take place May 5–11, 2024, and builds off the success of National Apprenticeship Week. YAW is a nationwide celebration highlighting the benefits and value of Registered Apprenticeship program opportunities for youth, ages 16–24. It is never too early to start planning. Review the YAW Fact Sheet to learn how to get involved. Additionally, the YAW Event Planning Toolkit and the Event Promotion Toolkit, combined, have all the resources you need to plan, organize, and host a successful event. To date, there are over 300 events scheduled during YAW all across the country.
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WEBINAR HELD TO RECOGNIZE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
On March 28, OA, in partnership with The Apprentice School at Huntington Ingall's Newport News Shipbuilding, hosted a webinar in honor of Women's History Month. The event featured a diverse panel of female apprentices presently earning and learning at this shipbuilding Registered Apprenticeship program. Topics covered included how The Apprentice School helps women apprentices to proactively address and challenges they may face as the work and learn. The panelists were excited to share their unique perspectives on what they liked best about being apprentices in their dynamic industry. For more information about women in apprenticeship, please visit Apprenticeship.gov.
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OA HOSTS APPRENTICESHIP ACCELERATOR WITH THE STATE BUSINESS EXECUTIVES
On April 9, OA co-hosted an Apprenticeship Accelerator with the State Business Executives (SBE). SBE consists of executives who lead chambers of commerce, trade associations, and state roundtables that drive policy agendas within their states to support business growth and success. OA Administrator John Ladd provided an overview of the dynamic role that the National Apprenticeship System plays in helping businesses to build their future talent. Representatives from two Registered Apprenticeship sponsors - Aon and Siemens Energy - shared the apprenticeship model has allowed them to thrive. The CEO of the National Institute for Innovation and Technology, one of OA's 20 apprenticeship industry intermediaries, share how they can assist businesses to connect to apprenticeship. For more information about industry intermediaries, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
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GRANT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIPS NOW SEEKING APPLICANTS
Administered by the Department’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train, and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations.
This funding opportunity will help address the significant underrepresentation of women in Registered Apprenticeship in skilled trades, such as construction, and in emerging, high-growth industries like manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare. Currently, women only comprise approximately 14 percent of Registered Apprentices while they account for nearly half the U.S. labor force.
Apply for the 2024 WANTO grant at grants.gov by June 10, 2024
To learn more, check out:
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PROFILES OF EFFECTIVE APPRENTICESHIP AND WORKFORCE SYSTEM ALIGNMENT
This newsletter periodically features promising practices from the field that foster seamless alignment of Registered Apprenticeship within the broader workforce system. Effective workforce development policy and Registered Apprenticeship programs are vital strategies to promote economic growth and healthy communities. One excellent approach to build broad-based support for apprenticeship and workforce system alignment is to cultivate "champions" among key elected officials serving a state or community. Recently, the National Governors Association identified a significant number of Governors who outlined their visions for how apprenticeship is a key component of their respective states workforce system activities. To learn more, visit the Strategic Partnerships and System Alignment RA TA Center on their web page.
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