Virginia Foxx: “This week, we celebrate the fifth year of National Apprenticeship Week, a week dedicated to showcasing the impact that…”

“This week, we celebrate the fifth year of National Apprenticeship Week, a week dedicated to showcasing the impact that apprenticeship programs have on preparing Americans for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our Nation has 7 million unfilled jobs. A 2018 survey of U.S. employers showed that nearly half of all job creators struggle to hire employees with the right skills for the job. Apprenticeships offer one of the strongest solutions to closing the skills gap and strengthening the American workforce. That is why Republicans on the Committee on Education and Labor are committed to expanding apprenticeship opportunities nationwide. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of apprentices retain employment after completing an apprenticeship program, and the average starting salary after completion is $70,000. Apprenticeships help integrate the education system with the workforce development system, which allows all students to be better prepared to compete successfully in the 21st century economy. ____________________”