Apprenticeships were a focus for federal officials — including acting U.S. Labor Secretary Patrick Pizzella — who last week updated the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) board of directors on various federal programs and endeavors.
More than 576,000 apprentices have been hired since the start of 2017, Pizzella said during the annual AACC board retreat in Washington, D.C. He added that the number will grow even higher with the expansion of so-called industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs).
The Trump administration has made apprenticeships a central part of its efforts to ramp up the number of U.S. skilled workers. Pizzella summarized recently awarded grants for registered apprenticeships, proposals for IRAPs and a new partnership between the department and AACC that places selected community colleges as lead organizations in new apprenticeship efforts.
“We’re coming at all angles on this,” he said.
Not waiting around
Pizzella also encouraged college leaders to work closer with local businesses to learn what they need in their employees.
“The business community is not going to wait for anybody,” he said.