Follows Sen. Anderson’s successful Youth Skills Training apprenticeship program
Senator Paul Anderson [R-Plymouth] is joining Governor Mark Dayton in celebrating Apprenticeship Week in Minnesota, November 11-17th. Minnesota’s week coincides with National Apprenticeship Week, which honors the apprenticeship community and promotes the advantages of developing careers through the apprenticeship model. Senator Anderson has expanded apprenticeship opportunities in Minnesota through his bipartisan Youth Skills Training Program that pairs high school students with hands-on apprenticeships and internships at local employers.
“Apprenticeships offer our local businesses an innovative solution to tackling the workforce ‘skills gap’ and uniquely preparing our next generation of trained, qualified workers,” said Senator Anderson, Vice Chair of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. “With unemployment rates at record lows, apprenticeships not only allow employers an opportunity to train individuals to their specific needs, but also allow workforce members to develop skills in a hands-on environment, with near certainty of future employment.”
In June, The Youth Skills Training Program, legislation which was authored by Senator Anderson during the 2017 legislative session, awarded five business-school partnerships across the state grants to develop and implement paid apprenticeship opportunities for local high school students. Locally, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce in Plymouth was a recipient of one of the awards. A second round of grants will be awarded this December.
Currently in the State of Minnesota, there are nearly 12,000 apprentices actively training in 200 programs within high-growth industries such as agriculture, advanced manufacturing, construction, health care, information technology, transportation, and utilities. Employers and those interested in apprenticeship can learn more at www.apprenticeshipmn.com.