A record 17,089 apprentices to participate in state program to ‘earn while they learn,’ third consecutive year of record-high number of registered apprentices

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Nov 18th, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), on Nov 18th, celebrated “National Apprenticeship Week” by announcing that Wisconsin’s Registered Apprenticeship Program has reached a record 17,089 enrolled apprentices, an all-time record. This surpasses record-high participation in both 2022 and 2023 and marks the third consecutive year that the Registered Apprenticeship Program has reached an all-time record in the program’s 112-year history.

“As we celebrate reaching record-high numbers of registered apprentices in Wisconsin, it’s clear that our continued commitment to investing in our state's workforce, especially during the ‘Year of the Worker,’ is paying off. We've worked hard to expand apprenticeship pathways, reduce barriers to work, and bolster our workforce as we continue our efforts to ensure Wisconsin's workforce and our economy are ready to meet the demands of the 21st Century. This record-breaking year is a testament to these important efforts and we are going to keep working to ensure we maintain our momentum,” said Gov. Evers. 

Wisconsin Apprenticeship pairs structured, on-the-job training with classroom instruction, allowing apprentices to be paid to “earn as they learn.” Wisconsin has been a national leader in apprenticeship since 1911, when it became the first in the nation with a registered apprenticeship program, and is unique among the 50 states in requiring employers to pay their apprentices for both time worked and time spent in required classroom instruction. This recognizes the importance of a dual training system that combines skills obtained on the job site with technical knowledge in the classroom. 

“We are laser-focused on the Wisconsin Apprenticeship’s continued growth and what it offers both workers and employers in the modern economy,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “The continued record-breaking success relies on partnerships throughout the state, including the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Advisory Council and many others, who are critical to ensuring that the program helps power the state’s economic momentum.”

Wisconsin has more than 200 apprenticeship occupations with over 2,600 employers. While traditional construction trades apprenticeships continue to be strong, emerging employment sectors and occupations, including healthcare, are building the depth of offerings and growing apprenticeship opportunities.

In May, DWD also announced an all-time high of 9,932 youth apprentices enrolled during the 2023-24 school year, with a record 6,671 employers participating. Youth Apprenticeship, which started in 1991 also as the first program of its kind in the nation, is a strong connector to registered apprenticeship programs.

We’re leading the way with new opportunities in fields such as teaching, child care, IT and finance, healthcare, and arboriculture, bringing apprenticeship to more diverse participants and new industries,” said David Polk, director of DWD’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.

During National Apprenticeship Week, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is joining DWD and other partners in building awareness about apprenticeship. Specifically, DFI wants to share that funds saved in a Wisconsin 529 college savings plan—Edvest 529 or Tomorrow’s Scholar—can be used to pay for qualified expenses associated with apprenticeship programs registered with the Secretary of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Act and state apprenticeship agencies.

“Purchasing textbooks, supplies, and equipment, such as required trade tools, is vital to successfully completing an apprenticeship,” said DFI Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins. “During National Apprenticeship Week and throughout the year, we want to make sure students and families understand that funds they save in a Wisconsin 529 college savings plan can be utilized for a variety of qualified expenses, including those associated with certain apprenticeship programs.”

The state’s record-high apprenticeship numbers further cement apprenticeship as a time-tested, proven solution to meet employers’ needs for skilled workers in traditional and emerging industries. Gov. Evers has made it a priority to address Wisconsin’s workforce challenges and declared 2024 the Year of the Worker in his 2024 State of the State Address. During Gov. Evers’ tenure, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has hit record lows, and last month, Gov. Evers and DWD announced nine counties across the state, including several counties in Northern Wisconsin, showed the lowest rates of unemployment on record. Additionally, last week, Gov. Evers announced that Wisconsin has reached a new record high for employment during October 2024, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking the sixth consecutive monthly record for state employment and highlighting the unprecedented number of workers participating in Wisconsin’s economy.

Additionally, National Apprenticeship Week will be marked by several events, including:

- Wisconsin-Germany Apprenticeship Webinar – DWD will host a free public webinar on Nov. 19, 2024, highlighting a unique collaboration among apprenticeship leaders from Wisconsin and Germany. The webinar, Advancing Apprenticeship: An International Collaboration, builds on a series of Wisconsin-German visits that started in 2018. In the most recent exchange, leaders from DWD, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee traveled to the German cities of Bonn, Koblenz, and Berlin for visits organized by the German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training.

- Teacher Apprentice Signing Ceremony – The first cohort of teacher apprentices in Wisconsin will sign contracts on Nov. 21, 2024, to participate in the new Teacher Apprenticeship pilot program, announced in Gov. Evers’ 2024 State of the State address. The sponsoring employer school districts, Appleton, Elmbrook, Greendale, and Wauwatosa, will join the event. Through Wisconsin’s proven apprenticeship model, this apprenticeship pilot provides a sustainable talent pipeline to help school districts fill open teacher positions in the future while filling paraprofessional jobs now. Traditional educator preparation programs can be expensive and often require unpaid student teaching, which can be a potential barrier for low-income students, nontraditional students, or individuals looking to change careers.