UTICA — In honor of the 85th anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act, the Workforce Development Board, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Counties’ Regional Apprenticeship Development and Readiness (RADAR) Grant will celebrate the U.S. Department of Labor’s eighth annual National Apprenticeship Week with a virtual event open to the public from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 16, on the Zoom platform.
National Apprenticeship Week was established by the Department of Labor to celebrate the significant impact Registered Apprenticeship programs have had in re-building the economy, advancing racial and gender equity, building a pipeline to good, quality jobs, and supporting underserved communities.
Hundreds of NAW events and activities will take place all over the country, including open houses, skill competitions, community forums, apprentice graduations, business open houses, high school, and college career fairs apprenticeship signing days, industry roundtable events, diversity and inclusion dialogues.
“The benefits of Registered Apprenticeships are substantial for both career seekers and employers,” says RADAR Project Director Sommer Edwards. “These ‘earn and learn’ models enable employers to fill open jobs, improve productivity and profitability, and reduce turnover while providing the American workforce with pathways to start new careers and acquire the skills needed for good jobs. We are committed to helping those in our community access pathways to well-paying jobs in growing industries and are excited to support National Apprenticeship Week by showcasing local grants and employers currently working with Registered Apprenticeships.”
The WDB/HMO has successfully placed hundreds of individuals into pre-apprenticeship training and registered apprenticeship opportunities, and continues to emphasize the value of these programs, to both businesses and job seekers.
The WDB/HMO Apprenticeship Week Celebration event, hosted by the RADAR grant, will feature breakout rooms and attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a number of apprenticeship-based grant programs, as well as employers with registered apprenticeships.
