New Apprenticeship Programs Provide Solution to Workforce Challenges
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is actively finding innovation solutions to workforce challenges to keep our economy and communities thriving.
One of those proven solutions is Wisconsin Apprenticeship. Apprenticeships prepare people throughout the state for good jobs through programs new and time-tested. Wisconsin pioneered apprenticeship in the U.S. and today continues to break new ground and set records.
"Apprenticeship is introducing more Wisconsinites to a new era of worker power and maintaining the momentum of our state's winning economic performance," said Amy Pechacek, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. "In this Year of the Worker in our state, we're preparing our workforce to meet the needs of a 21st century economy through our many apprenticeship programs."
Wisconsin established its Registered Apprenticeship (RA) system in 1911. In 2023, apprenticeship had a record-setting 16,384 registered apprentices and 2,600 employers. The state also offers a Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program, launched in 1991. It offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn an occupation while at school. A record number of 9,932 apprentices and 6,671 employer sponsors participated in the 2023-2024 school year.
The Wisconsin earn-and-learn RA model features 90% on-the-job learning and 10% paid related instruction at an approved educational partner. It's an appealing option for those seeking a skilled occupation with little to no student debt. Apprentices emerge from their program with a nationally recognized journeyworker credential and can also receive a license or certification, and usually credits toward a college degree.
Apprenticeship benefits employer sponsors, which mentor and train full-time working apprentices and teach them their culture, values, and processes. There are no fees for an employer to apply to be an RA sponsor. Many employers sponsor Youth Apprenticeship (YA) programs which can bridge to an RA program.
Last year, the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS) launched a Human Resources (HR) Specialist Registered Apprenticeship program in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This 18-month RA program has grown to six employer sponsors and seven apprentices. It leverages SHRM's signature educational programming, aligned to the organization's competency model and credentials to cultivate HR leaders who will be equipped to manage and lead with innovation and insight. Apprentices are eligible and highly prepared to take the exam for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential when they complete the program.
"The HR specialist registered apprenticeship helps address the workforce challenges Wisconsin businesses are facing," said David Polk, Apprenticeship Director with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. "Human resources departments are the people that hire people, and we are eager to help them. I'm excited for more HR departments to learn about the apprenticeship model."
The SHRM HR apprenticeship program has seen a 229% increase in participants nationwide in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022 together. The national program has 107 employer sponsors.
Wisconsin's apprenticeship system continues to grow as it expands programs into other high-demand, non-traditional occupations such as HR. Other new programs include IT, healthcare, facilities maintenance, teacher, truck drivers, and more. The Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS) has Apprenticeship Outreach Representatives to help employers design an apprenticeship program that fits their individual needs and the needs of their apprentice participants.
Learn more about new apprenticeship programs at the Wisconsin Apprenticeship website. Find information and resources on the HR apprenticeship program on the SHRM Foundation site, or email hrrap@shrm.org and Chuck.Olsen@dwd.Wisconsin.gov.
Learn more about the new apprenticeships at: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/ra/employers.htm
Find information and resources on the HR apprenticeship program at: www.hrapprentice.org or email hrrap@shrm.org and Chuck.Olsen@dwd.Wisconsin.gov
This post is locked to comments.
