WEST PALM BEACH — Apprenticeships offer opportunities for both employers and career seekers, bringing growth and economic development to Palm Beach County. That’s why CareerSource Palm Beach County is offering customized support and resources to businesses looking to launch their own apprenticeship programs as part of National Apprenticeship Week Nov. 13 - 17.

“Apprenticeship programs with our local employers and educational partners address the growing demand for skilled talent and provide rewarding opportunities for Palm Beach County residents seeking rewarding careers,” said Julia Dattolo, President and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach County, the non-profit organization chartered to lead workforce development in the county.

Through mentorship and technical instruction, job seekers can receive on-the-job training to learn necessary skills while earning a paycheck. The average starting hourly wage for an apprentice is $15. The average starting annual salary for a fully proficient worker who completes an apprenticeship is $60,000.

Employers train and retain talent to their own standards. Unlike traditional postsecondary education programs, which are designed to prepare students for any number of career pathways, apprenticeships are designed by and for the employer with a specialized focus on the unique needs of a specific job.

CareerSource supports registered apprenticeship programs across several industries including construction, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare. On Nov. 16, CareerSource Associate Vice President Charles Duval and Apprenticeship Navigator/Grants Manager Stacy Hayden are hosting a virtual meeting with agricultural growers and manufacturers in Belle Glade to educate them on apprenticeships and their advantages as a long-term talent solution. Employers attending will include Florida Crystals, Tellus, and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative.

CareerSource Palm Beach County also supports Apprentice Florida, a partnership between the Florida Commerce Department, Florida Department of Education, and CareerSource Florida. The program encourages and assists businesses in establishing apprenticeships and educates individuals about pursuing careers through apprenticeships.

Florida is making great strides in both apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, with a 14% increase in the number of active apprentices and pre-apprentices over last year, translating into 36 new registered apprenticeship programs and more than 5,000 new apprentices. Today, there are more than 19,000 Floridians serving as an apprentice or pre-apprentice.

National Apprenticeship Week celebrates the impact apprenticeships have in helping Americans learn skills for jobs in growing industries. Hundreds of activities take place across the nation this week, including open houses, skill competitions, community forums, apprenticeship graduations, school and college career fairs, industry roundtables and more.

This year NAW’s theme is “Registered Apprenticeship: Superhighway to Good Jobs,” to reflect the prominence that Registered Apprenticeships are a proven and industry-driven training model that expedites the pathway into good jobs and improves diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Registered Apprenticeships are recognized as a key strategy to improving job quality and creating access to good-paying jobs for all, including populations historically underrepresented – women, people of color, and individuals with a disability – and others, such as youth and young adults. It addresses some of our nation’s pressing workforce shortages in teaching, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, cybersecurity, and other high-priority sectors.

For more information on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, click on this link: https://apprenticeflorida.com