SUBCOMMITTEE Economic and Workforce Health

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are industry-driven, high-quality career pathways where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction and portable credentials. For states, apprenticeships serve as an important way to reduce unemployment and create a workforce pipeline for in-demand occupations.

6. State policymakers and agencies can consider ways to highlight the benefits of apprenticeship programs to youth and young adults.

7. States can consider allowing mentorship to satisfy any continuing education requirements as an incentive for industry-based mentorship. Industry professionals could count activities such as mentoring a career aspirant or hosting a job shadowing session.

8. States can explore innovative ways to invest in pre-apprenticeship programs for job seekers to increase basic literacy, numeracy and soft skills among potential workers.

9. States can explore public sector programs and apprenticeships in the law enforcement career path with a particular focus on recruiting, educating, training, credentialing and employing individuals who are currently underrepresented within law enforcement.

10. States can explore State as a Model Employer apprenticeship programs that are also public-private partnerships. For example, state governments could create a public sector apprenticeship that educates, trains, pays and offers credentials to job seekers. Upon completion of the public sector apprenticeship, the graduate could be offered a job with a private sector organization partnered with the state that employs individuals with a similar skillset.

Economic and Workforce Health Subcommittee Members

ƒ Sen. Melissa Hurtado, California, Co-chair

ƒ Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, Montana, Co-chair

ƒ Director Charisse Childers, Arkansas

ƒ Rep. David Bentz, Delaware

ƒ Rep. Val Okimoto, Hawaii

ƒ Sen. Fred Martin, Idaho

ƒ Former Rep. Kyle Bailey, Maine

ƒ Rep. Andy Vargas, Massachusetts

ƒ Sen. Mary Kunesh, Minnesota

ƒ Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley, North Dakota

ƒ Rep. Leon Howard, South Carolina

ƒ Rep. Shawn Bordeaux, South Dakota

ƒ Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Vermont