(UPDATE, CHEYENNE) – The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and the Wyoming Office of Apprenticeship are celebrating the first annual National Apprenticeship Week in Wyoming. Governor Mead will sign a proclamation designating November 2-8 as National Apprenticeship Week in the state.
Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a skilled occupation.
“National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to recognize and bring awareness to the importance of apprenticeship programs in Wyoming,” said Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services John Cox. “These programs foster highly skilled, self-sufficient workers. Apprenticeships also give businesses the ability to build and develop a strong talent pipeline.”
In Wyoming, 371 apprentices participate in a registered apprenticeship program with 80 Wyoming employers. Registered apprenticeship programs in Wyoming are currently in place for police officers, linemen, electricians, plumbers, machinists, sheet metal workers, carpenters, gas main fitters, HVAC and iron workers.
“National Apprenticeship Week is a first for Wyoming and the United States,” said Michael Ann Broad, State Director for the Office of Apprenticeship, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. “I would like to thank Governor Mead for his support of Registered Apprenticeship, as a training model, designed to meet the skill sets needed for Wyoming’s occupations. I would also like to thank program sponsors and apprentices for their dedication and commitment to training a workforce utilizing a proven work-based model. As Secretary Perez states, apprenticeship is the original college degree.”
For more information about registered apprenticeships, contact Michael Ann Broad, State Director of the Wyoming Office of Apprenticeship at (307) 772-2448.
(NOVEMBER 04, 2015) — The Wyoming Contractors Association, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, announced today Governor Matt Mead will sign a proclamation formally designating the week of November 2-8, 2015 as “National Apprenticeship Week.” The ceremony will take place on Friday, November 6 at 8:30am in the Governor’s Office in the State Capitol Building in Cheyenne.
Apprenticeship programs have been utilized by Wyoming businesses since the late 1930s. Today, 80 companies offer registered apprenticeship programs to over 371 active apprentices. The industries served are diverse, ranging from construction to electrical, engineering, and plumbing, to name a few. While the majority of apprenticeship programs are located in Casper and Cheyenne, opportunities are available in a number of Wyoming communities. The benefits of apprenticeships to businesses include diversification of their workforce, improved productivity, standardized training, and reduced turnover. In addition, the average starting wage for those completing apprenticeships is more than $50,000.
“The demand for skilled workers in all trades, including construction, continues to grow by leaps and bounds in our state,” said Katie Legerski, Executive Director of the Wyoming Contractors Association. “Apprenticeships, which allow people to learn new skills while they work, are a critical part of ensuring Wyoming can continue to compete effectively in the national and global economy,” she continued. “Governor Mead clearly understands the need to provide skilled training opportunities to residents of our state, which translates directly into a strong, diverse economy. The Wyoming Contractors Association supports the Governor’s efforts and those of the U.S. Department of Labor to highlight the continued need for apprenticeship programs by designating the week of November 2-8 as “National Apprenticeship Week,” said Legerski.