The U.S. Department of Labor is celebrating the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week and the creation of a new push to increase, diversify and refashion registered apprenticeships in the United States in an effort to bring paid learning opportunities up to date.
National Apprenticeship Week kicked off Monday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 21, according to the Department of Labor. President Joe Biden made a presidential proclamation marking the occasion. The Biden-Harris administration was also honored for their part in helping expand apprenticeship opportunities for women and others in underrepresented populations.
"During National Apprenticeship Week, we also commit to ensuring that people from populations that have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent discrimination, poverty, and inequality have an opportunity to participate in the workforce," Biden said in a statement. "In particular, given the historic underrepresentation of women in apprenticeship programs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s labor force participation, there is even greater urgency to support women’s participation in registered apprenticeships.”
The weeklong awareness event will include career and trade fairs, in addition to conferences and open houses. An estimated 832 events and 172 proclamations marking National Apprenticeship Week are expected to take place across the country.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also unveiled the new Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, which he said would "build a national network of ambassadors to communicate the value of registered apprenticeships as a workforce strategy in high-demand industries." Walsh went on to talk about how ambassadors will help support the department's goal to add to registered apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship ambassadors will work closely with the Office of Apprenticeship to promote and increase the awareness of the benefit of registered apprenticeships, support and speed up the creation of earn-as-you-learn opportunities, increase access to apprenticeships in minority populations, and tell employers about the benefits of the Registered Apprenticeship Program for in-demand fields, according to the Department of Labor.
