On the recordNovember 13, 2018
As co-chair of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, I rise to recognize National Apprenticeship Week. In recent years, we have heard too often about the tremendous skills gap that we have in our country, where too many jobs at companies in our districts go unfilled because workers don't have the skills to do those jobs that are available. Well, apprenticeships provide valuable on-the-job training for students of all ages. By combining practical and theoretical instruction, they allow students to earn while they learn, preparing them for high-skilled, high-paying jobs. I have seen the promise of these programs back home. In Rhode Island, Electric Boat has partnered with the Community College of Rhode Island to offer an apprenticeship program at Quonset Point in maritime pipe and structural trades. Apprentices will finish the program with a certificate and an associate's degree, ready for rewarding careers in high-demand industries. Apprenticeships offer affordable education for students, powerful productivity enhancements for businesses, and big economic returns for our communities. As the number of skilled job openings continues to grow and the workforce continues to age, apprenticeship programs will become even more critical. ____________________
