Kentucky Ag Connection - Cabinet Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

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Cabinet Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
Kentucky Ag Connection - 11/15/2018

This week, the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet (KEWDC) will celebrate National Apprenticeship Week in Kentucky from Nov. 12-17, by recognizing over 250 Registered Apprenticeship Programs that apprentice approximately 3,500 Kentuckians across the state.

"National Apprenticeship Week recognizes the unique workforce development opportunities available through registered apprenticeships," said Bevin. "As we continue to attract new businesses and jobs in record numbers to the Commonwealth, apprenticeships provide a proven training model for companies and ensure that Kentuckians are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace and to advance in their chosen career field."

Registered Apprenticeships in Kentucky are supplying Kentucky's workforce with innovative and new forms of job training. Currently, there are over 100 different occupations participating in the Registered Apprenticeship Model, with the top Kentucky occupations including electricians, pipe fitters, line installers, certified nurse assistants, and steel workers.

"To ensure our success with the rapidly expanding and diversifying businesses and industry presence in Kentucky, we must cultivate and grow a robust, skilled workforce capable of meeting ever-changing demands," KEWDC Secretary Derrick Ramsey said. "The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is committed to making Registered Apprenticeships an important component to this growth as we help fill the talent gap for emerging and new businesses."

Within the last year, there has been significant growth within Registered Apprenticeships including the creation of the first healthcare apprenticeship, with Norton Healthcare in Louisville, and the first IT apprenticeship in the nation, with Interapt in Louisville. State government agencies have also adopted the Registered Apprenticeship Model. Earlier this year, the Division of Apprenticeship joined Bevin, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Personnel Cabinet, and the Department of Education to announce the first apprenticeship program for state-employed social service workers in the country.

KEWDC hosted the second annual Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship Summit in Louisville from Sept. 10 -- 12. With over 400 attendees, the summit brought together apprenticeship stakeholders with business, education, and civic leaders from across the Commonwealth and beyond to discuss ways this proven training model is transforming the state's workforce.

The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet acts as the governing body for Registered Apprenticeships in Kentucky, and provides technical and consultative services to employers. The "Kentucky Trained. Kentucky Built." campaign was launched in 2016 to signal the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet's commitment to strengthening and growing Registered Apprenticeships across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx.

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