U.S. Department of Labor Announces National Apprenticeship Week

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that the fifth annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) will be held from Nov. 11-17, 2019.

Established by the U.S. Department of Labor, NAW is a nationwide celebration that brings together business leaders, labor, educational institutions, and Americans interested in apprenticeships to showcase the impact apprenticeship programs have on closing the U.S. skills gap and preparing the American workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to develop a highly skilled workforce,” Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella says. “As our economy grows, the Trump Administration continues to focus on expanding apprenticeship opportunities for America’s workforce.”

With 7.2 million job openings in the U.S., apprenticeships are industry-driven career pathways in which employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and transferable credentials.

NAW is responsible for more than 2,000 apprenticeship-focused events attended by more than 200,000 participants across all 50 states since its creation in 2014. NAW has also generated three Presidential proclamations and nearly 300 proclamations from governors, mayors, state senators, and numerous industry and labor unions to affirm their commitment to apprenticeship. Events and activities have included apprenticeship program open houses for career seekers, skills competitions, community forums, apprentice graduations, business open houses, high school and college career fairs, apprenticeship signing days, industry roundtable events, and more.

To learn more, visit the Department of Labor’s source for all things apprenticeship. To explore NAW resources and to create and register your event for inclusion in a national listing of NAW events, visit online.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the U.S.; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.