USDOL Seeking Applications for Apprenticeship Grants Program

The U.S. Department of Labor is inviting public-private partnerships to apply for grants to develop and implement innovative, high-quality registered apprenticeship programs. This grant competition will help more Americans become apprentices, a proven path to quality employment and the middle class. The American Apprenticeship Grants competition will focus on public-private partnerships between employers, business associations, joint labor-management organizations, labor organizations, training providers, community colleges, local and state governments, the workforce system, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations.

Applications close on  April 15. Learn more and apply at the Department of Labor website.

Background on Apprenticeships

• As you may know, President Obama has announced an ambitious goal to double the number of apprentices by 2019.
• The President and the Department of Labor want to ensure that these apprenticeship opportunities are available for all Americans, especially underrepresented populations such as women and communities of color.
• In 2014, women only comprised 7% of the registered apprentices and other minority groups comprised only 35%.
• However, studies have shown that apprenticeships lead to good jobs and higher wages. About 87% of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and that the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is $50,000.
• The Office of Apprenticeship is also targeting a number of high-growth industries, including healthcare, IT, manufacturing, energy and transportation.

 Women’s Bureau Collaboration to Support the Administration’s Apprenticeship Goals

• The Women’s Bureau has been working on the issue of pay equity for a long time. Occupational segregation contributes to the current wage gap between men and women. The Women’s Bureau believes that apprenticeship is an important vehicle for helping women move into high-growth, high-wage occupations, in which they are currently underrepresented.
• The Women’s Bureau is assisting with the outreach in order to help increase apprenticeship opportunities particularly for women and other populations underrepresented in apprenticeship to make all stakeholders aware of this Presidential priority.
• The Women’s Bureau is energized by the President’s and the Secretary’s commitment to increasing the number of apprentices and therefore has made apprenticeship and skills-related issues a priority area for the coming year.
• The American Apprenticeship Grants is just one of many initiatives the Department of Labor is undertaking to meet the President’s broader apprenticeship challenge.

 Forwarded on behalf of the Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor