National Apprenticeship Week Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

By Mitch Coppes, Federal Government Affairs Manager, Goodwill Industries International

Did you know that individuals who complete a Registered Apprenticeship program earn an average of $300,000 more over their careers than those who do not complete an apprenticeship, or that the median return on investment in Registered Apprenticeship for employers is 44.3 percent? For millions of Americans, participation in an apprenticeship program offers a pathway to a rewarding career with good wages. Moreover, employers increasingly rely on apprenticeship programs to develop a highly skilled workforce for in-demand sectors and occupations like cybersecurity, health care, and clean energy.

The tenth annual National Apprenticeship Week is November 17–23. During the week, employers, community-based organizations, educators, government agencies, labor organizations, apprentices, and graduates come together to celebrate “10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation.” National Apprenticeship Week 2024 also highlights some of the innovative strategies and practices in the apprenticeship system, including youth apprenticeships, Registered Apprenticeships in new and emerging industries, women in apprenticeship, federal apprenticeships, and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans.

President Biden recently issued a proclamation in recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, where he promoted the benefits that apprenticeships deliver to employers, workers, and the economy. “America’s workers are the best in the world — and that is in no small part due to our exceptional Registered Apprenticeship programs,” said Biden. “During National Apprenticeship Week, we recommit to supporting these programs, which put so many Americans on a path to securing good-paying jobs and helping build the industries of the future.”

Learn more about National Apprenticeship Week and how local Goodwill organizations can support the expansion of high-quality apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship programs at Apprenticeship.gov.