The 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is this week, November 14th through 20th. People nationwide will be uniting to celebrate the impact apprenticeship programs have had on our society, our nation’s infrastructure and our very own construction industry.
Apprenticeships have helped our society by:
- Rebuilding our economy
- Advancing racial and gender equity
- Supporting underserved communities
Apprenticeships have helped our infrastructure by:
- Addressing critical supply chain demands
- Supporting clean energy workforce
Apprenticeships have helped our industry by:
- Proving an effective training model
- Providing talent to fill vacant roles
- Training the next generation to fill the labor gap
And while we are grateful for all that apprenticeship programs do for our nation as a whole, we believe that the best part of all is the impact on the individual. We at I Build America fully support apprenticeships as we have seen firsthand how they transform a person. There is no other training that lays as solid of a foundation and sets people up for future success.
First and foremost, apprenticeships pay students to learn. Unlike other industries, construction encourages its workforce to begin a career on the right foot — without debt and with all of the tools needed to succeed.
But the individual impact doesn’t stop during the apprenticeship program alone. According to the United States Department of Labor, 9 out of 10 apprentices are employed after completing their apprenticeship. Not only are they hired almost immediately, they earn great money right off the bat with an average starting salary of more than $60,000 per year. And, workers who complete apprenticeship programs earn $300,000 more over the course of their career, compared to their peers who do not.
Clearly, there is plenty to celebrate this week.
So what can you expect this National Apprenticeship Week? Leaders across all levels, from education to government, industry to labor, will be hosting events that will showcase the success of Registered Apprenticeship programs. And while the events may vary from location to location, the U.S. Department of Labor will highlight key themes on each of the five days:
Monday, November 14th
Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries
Tuesday, November 15th
Pre-Apprenticeship and Youth Apprenticeship
Wednesday, November 16th
Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations
Thursday, November 17th
Women in Apprenticeship
Friday, November 18th
Public Service Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship
We are asking all industry professionals to take part in National Apprenticeship Week. Your commitment today will support our industry for years to come. How can you get involved?
- Take part in an event near you.
- Submit a proclamation of your commitment here.
- Share your commitment with your network on social media.
Not yet a part of the construction industry? If you are interested in learning more about apprenticeship programs, we recommend exploring our apprenticeship page. There, you’ll find an interactive map that will help you find the right apprenticeship for you. If you’re just starting out on your construction journey, we recommend you learn more about the range of careers available before exploring the apprenticeship programs available to you. Visit our careers page here.
Ready to share more about the power of apprenticeships? Check out the social media images below and share your messages all week long!
