Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2020
November 9, 2020
National Apprenticeship Week: November 8-14, 2020
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration that highlights the benefits of apprenticeship programs that prepare a highly skilled workforce in diverse industries — something that Iowa knows a thing or two about.
As one of the country’s leaders in apprenticeship, Iowa is uniquely positioned to attack the U.S. skills gap, an employment gap in “middle skills” jobs, which require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree.
Apprenticeships are viewed as one of the most effective ways to develop a highly skilled workforce.
National Apprenticeship Week is celebrated November 8-14, 2020. Learn more about Iowa's apprenticeship programs.
- Iowa has achieved more per-capita apprenticeship program participation than anywhere else in the country — with more people involved in Iowa than in states with three times the population.
- Iowa currently has nearly 800 apprenticeships and plans to add 130 more in the coming year.
- The state has 7,745 registered apprentices, who, on average, make more than $60,000 a year after program completion.
- At a time when many people are looking for jobs or revamping their careers, these programs take on outsized importance. Even though Iowa typically has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, a shortage of skilled workers limits job growth in the state. That’s why Iowa proactively allocated $1.3 million in fiscal year 2020 to offer grants to companies that develop new apprenticeship programs for high-demand occupations. The state also has $3 million to fund existing programs.
- Iowa is also leading the nation in National Apprenticeship Week with 58 events — 16 more than the next closest state, proving that Iowa is committed to creating awareness and celebrating these ever-important programs.