National Apprenticeship Week

November 15-21 is the 7th annual National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide celebration to showcase the successes and value of registered apprenticeships for our nation’s economy. 

“For employers in our region, apprenticeships are another tool for talent attraction,” said Mike Oberhaus, the Chamber’s Chief Strategy Officer. “A lot of our employers are struggling to have the amount of talent, the skills that they are looking for in their success both short-term and long-term.”

Registered apprenticeship programs are valuable tools for our region’s employers to help solve worker shortage issues while creating long-term pipelines. Whether it is a high school apprenticeship program, or a traditional adult apprenticeship, this is a great opportunity for a business to attract and retain talent from new sources.

Apprenticeship programs help both employers and career seekers. For employers, apprenticeship programs offer the opportunity to:

• Recruit and develop a diverse and highly skilled workforce that helps you grow your business
• Improve productivity, profitability and your bottom line
• Reduce turnover, improve loyalty and increase employee retention
• Potentially receive federal grants, funding and tax credits
• Vet workers and instill your company’s values
• Demonstrate investment in your community

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a video message at an Apprenticeship Week Kick-Off Event Nov. 12 at the Putnam Museum, “There’s never been a more important time to ensure that Iowans have the training, skills and hands-on experience needed to bolster our workforce and fuel our economy. And National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the tremendous value that registered apprenticeship programs offer for workers, employers, and students.”