National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration to showcase the opportunities that Registered Apprenticeships offer for Americans to develop workplace experience and skills that employers value. In honor of the 8th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act, the U.S. Department of Labor is hosting the 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW)! This year’s NAW will take place November 14-20, 2022, at hundreds of events across the country.
During National Apprenticeship Week, the U.S. Department of Labor will highlight key themes:
- Monday, Nov. 14: Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries
- Tuesday, Nov. 15: Pre-Apprenticeship and Youth Apprenticeship
- Wednesday, Nov. 16: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations
- Thursday, Nov. 17: Women in Apprenticeship
- Friday, Nov. 18: Public Service Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship
In support of NAW, we at PIA are sharing key resources to advance understanding about the value of inclusive apprenticeships and how they can create pathways to lifelong careers in growing industries for underserved populations, including people with disabilities. The resources below also include information to help employers and their apprenticeship partners create and expand more inclusive apprenticeship opportunities.
“I truly believe apprenticeship is the way to go and being inclusive is the way to create a pool of diverse, skilled talent. Inclusive apprenticeships can also create career paths for people with disabilities who have traditionally been excluded from the workforce.”
– Josh Christianson, Project Director, Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship
Resources:
- Visit PIA’s Resource Library to find resources for employers, apprenticeship intermediaries, and current and prospective apprentices. Featured resources include:
- Don’t miss PIA’s Apprenticeship Success Stories featuring the stories of current and former apprentices who share how inclusive apprenticeships advanced their careers.
- Check out the Apprenticeship for All Podcast where guests discuss how inclusive apprenticeship programs are increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Top episodes include:
- How an Inclusive Apprenticeship Led to Marketable Skills in IT: A Neurodiverse Apprentice Shares His Success Story
- The Inclusive Apprenticeship Experience: An Apprentice Discusses his Journey to a Career in Cybersecurity
- How Apprenticeships are Creating Career Opportunities for Veterans with Disabilities
- Not Your Grandfather’s Apprenticeship: Apprenticeships in Nontraditional Sectors
Upcoming Events:
Monday, November 14th
- Apprenticeship as a Tool for Equity in Economic Development | Council of State Governments (CSG)
Tuesday, November 15th
- Apprenticeship Intermediary Fireside Chat | Council of State Governments (CSG)
- National Apprenticeship Week Outreach Event: Discussion on Resources and Protections for Apprentices | U.S. Department of Labor
- IT Apprenticeships Work for Wisconsin! | Apprenti
Wednesday, November 16th
- Embedding Equity in Your Registered Apprenticeship | Jobs for the Future (JFF)
- Racial Equity and Inclusion in Tech: Can Apprenticeships Change Hiring Practices | Brookings Institute
Thursday, November 17th
- An Apprenticeship for HR: Why it Works | SHRM Foundation
- National Apprenticeship Week November Meeting | Tech Quest Apprenticeship Industry Council (TQAIC)
- Women in Apprenticeship: Building Our Power | Women’s Bureau
Friday, November 18th
- #NAW2022 Wrap Up Event (Virtual and In-person) | Northern California Apprentice Network
References
[1] Kaletta, James P., Douglas J. Binks and Richard Robinson, “Creating an Inclusive Workplace: Integrating Employees with Disabilities into a Distribution Center Environment,” Professional Safety, June 2012, p. 64.
[2] Miller, Jennifer, “For younger job seekers, diversity and inclusion in the workplace aren’t a preference. They’re a requirement.,” Washington Post, 18 February 2021.
[3] Glassdoor, “Diversity and Inclusion Workplace Survey,” 30 September 2020.
[4] “Race, Ethnicity, and Disability: The Financial Impact of Systemic Inequality and Intersectionality,” National Disability Institute, August 2020