Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit: “Build Your Workforce Through Apprenticeship”
As apprenticeship expansion continues to unfold across the country, it is important Minnesotans are aware and informed of apprenticeship opportunities here in the state.
Apprenticeship Minnesota, part of the state’s Department of Labor and Industry, is hosting a free, one-day apprenticeship summit on Wednesday, March 7 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit is:
A day of free educational and networking opportunities celebrating the success of apprenticeship in Minnesota. The Summit will showcase best practices and explore strategies to expand apprenticeship to build Minnesota’s 21st century workforce.
Attendees can participate in workshops covering everything from promising practices in apprenticeship recruitment and retention to aligning career and technical education with building trades.
The Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit includes speakers and panel discussions from a range of industries and organizations. Workshops are designed for employers who have years of experience with apprenticeship, and for employers interested in creating their first program.
There’s a need for states to fill in-demand positions facing a shortage of job candidates with the necessary skills and abilities. A variety of industries benefit greatly from apprenticeship programs and will be highlighted at the Summit.
Apprenticeship industries for the Summit include construction, health care, and manufacturing as well as other high-growth industries like transportation, IT and agriculture. Target audiences include:
- Employers—large, small, urban and rural
- Employer associations
- Educators—all levels
- Apprenticeship sponsors
- Employers interested in developing an apprenticeship program
- PIPELINE Program Industry Councils
- Workforce investment boards
- Community-based organizations
The Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit is a free event, but registration is required to plan accordingly for breakfast, lunch, and all workshops.
Apprenticeships are designed to promote skills development, workplace readiness, and increase a worker’s earnings or employability. According to a report published by the Center, median wages for fields entered by apprenticeship are well-above the minimum wage in the Twin Cities region and Minnesota. To learn more about apprenticeship programs, visit the Center’s “Great Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree” website.