As originally published on The Daily Reporter by Ethan Duran.
Wisconsin has announced it broke the record for the most registered apprentices in its program this year.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on Monday reported there were 17,089 individuals enrolled in the Registered Apprenticeship Program, which provides training for a range of occupations, including construction, agriculture and information technology.
This is the third time the state announced it broke the registered apprenticeship record and surpassed the number of apprentices in 2022 and 2023.
“As we celebrate reaching record-high numbers of registered apprentices in Wisconsin, it’s clear that our continued commitment to investing in our state’s workforce, especially during the ‘Year of the Worker,’ is paying off,” Evers said in a statement. “We’ve worked hard to expand apprenticeship pathways, reduce barriers to work, and bolster our workforce as we continue our efforts to ensure Wisconsin’s workforce and our economy are ready to meet the demands of the 21st Century. This record-breaking year is a testament to these important efforts and we are going to keep working to ensure we maintain our momentum,” he added.
State officials said Wisconsin started the first registered apprenticeship program in 1911 with on-the-job training paired with classroom construction. The state offers more than 200 apprenticeship occupations with over 2,600 employees and traditional construction trades apprenticeships remain strong. Some emerging sectors such as healthcare grew apprenticeship opportunities as well, officials added.
“We’re leading the way with new opportunities in fields such as teaching, childcare, IT and finance, healthcare and arboriculture, bringing apprenticeship to more diverse participants and new industries,” said David Polk, director of the DWD’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, in a statement.
The DWD will host two public events this year: A Wisconsin-Germany apprenticeship webinar on Tuesday and a signing day for a teacher apprenticeship pilot program on Thursday.
In 2023, the state reported there were 16,384 registered apprentices enrolled in the program. This surpassed 2022’s record of 15,937 registered apprentices. Before that, the last record was set in 2001 with 15,757 apprentices.