Gov. Evers, DWD Announce Youth Apprenticeship to Add Four Occupational Pathways This Fall

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today announced that Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program will add four new occupational pathways to its program offerings in the 2024-2025 school year: law enforcement, fire protection, project management, and barbering/cosmetology.

“I declared 2024 the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin, and we’ve been making smart, strategic investments to bolster our state’s workforce, reduce barriers to work, and support key sectors that we know have been particularly strained,” said Gov. Evers. “These four new pathways build upon our work—we’re keeping more of our homegrown talent here in our state while providing an opportunity for young people to earn-while-they-learn, helping employers to fill critical staffing needs, and ensuring our economy to continue to grow and thrive in the 21st Century.”

The new pathways, which combine on-the-job skill training with classroom learning, bring the total number of occupational pathways to 83 in 16 program areas. Youth Apprenticeship opportunities are offered locally by consortia composed of school districts, technical colleges, chambers of commerce, and other partners.

The final 2023-25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers included $7 million in additional funding over the biennium for the Youth Apprenticeship program. In May, DWD announced an all-time high of 9,932 youth apprentices enrolled during the 2023-24 school year, with a record 6,671 employers participating. The state is on track to break these records again, with students enrolled in Youth Apprenticeship from more than 95 percent of Wisconsin’s eligible public school districts and 46 participating private or charter schools.

“Building a strong workforce that can meet the needs of the 21st Century starts with making sure students have access to a wide range of career advancement options,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “These four additional pathways help fill critical employer needs and allow students to earn as they acquire necessary training. DWD will continue seeking ways to strengthen connections among employers, educators, students, and communities while offering new opportunities to our young people to build their futures.”

The four new pathways will join 16 other program areas, including:

• Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
• Architecture & Construction
• Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications
• Business, Management & Administration
• Education & Training
• Finance
• Government & Public Administration
• Health Science
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
• Manufacturing
• Marketing, Sales & Service
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
• Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Youth Apprenticeship is a one-year or two-year earn-while-you-learn program for high school juniors and seniors pairing work and related classroom instruction in a chosen occupation. This program implements a dual training system that combines skills obtained on the job site with technical knowledge in the classroom. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to offer a Youth Apprenticeship program in 1991.

In addition to the Youth Apprenticeship program, the state’s Registered Apprenticeship program serves adults and can be the next step for Youth Apprenticeship participants. The Registered Apprenticeship program achieved 16,394 enrolled apprentices in 2023, a record number since the program began in 1911. The Registered Apprenticeship program combines structured, on-the-job training with classroom instruction and allows apprentices to earn money while they learn, rewarding employers with a skilled workforce and providing participants with family-supporting careers.

Employers interested in becoming a youth apprenticeship sponsor can find more information here. Students interested in becoming a youth apprentice can find more information here.

An online version of this release is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.