The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week 2020 taking place November 8 through 14, 2020.
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration that gives businesses, communities, and educators the opportunity to highlight the value apprenticeship programs offer businesses and careers seekers. The weeklong initiative will focus on themes and industries in which apprenticeships are making a significant difference for American workers, including technology, healthcare, financial services, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and more.
Locally, the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board recently applied for and was approved by the state Department of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) to fund a full time Apprenticeship Manager. Board Chair, Dave Slutz noted “the goal of the Board is to use our Manager to generate interest among employers and job seekers within the region. Within the past 5 months our Manager has established numerous contacts in the manufacturing and maritime industries and has several applications in process with the DAS.”
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Apprenticeships are industry-driven, high-quality career pathways in which employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and transferable credentials. Registered Apprenticeship Programs assist employers in developing a pool of workers with the right skills for available jobs and allow workers to get a paycheck from day one while building skills in a new career.
Rick Marshall, Apprenticeship Integration Manager at MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board noted “Earn As You Learn apprenticeships are a proven concept for both employer sponsors and their apprentice employees. Companies enjoy a workforce solution option with a 91% national retention rate while graduates of the one-to-five year programs receive structured on-the-job training that can lead to lifelong economic stability and increased wage earning opportunities.“
The Workforce Board’s Chief Elected Official, Mayor Jon Mitchell, “heartily endorsed the efforts of the Board’s staff for pursuing the grant to fund a position that provides options to the employer community to grow local talent. The executive leadership of the Board continues to be innovative in its quest to find new funds and ways to expand employment horizons within our area.”
The MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board is a business-led, policy-setting board that oversees workforce development initiatives in the ten-community region stretching from Dartmouth to Wareham, MA. Appointed by New Bedford Mayor Jonathan F. Mitchell, the Board is composed of business, civic, education, labor, and community leaders. For more information, follow this link visit our website’s Apprenticeship page.
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