The U.S. Department of Labor held the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week, November 15-21, a Presidential proclamation on apprenticeship and the launch of a new collaborative effort to expand, diversify and modernize Registered Apprenticeships in the US.
National Apprenticeship Week 2021 included career and trade fairs, open houses, conferences, roundtables and panel discussions with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in apprenticeship opportunities. Plans included more than 832 events and the issuance of 172 proclamations in 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia.
This year’s celebration also included recognition of the efforts by the Biden-Harris administration and the department to encourage and increase apprenticeship opportunities for women and communities underrepresented in apprenticeship. In advance of the celebration, President Biden said the following:
“During National Apprenticeship week, we also commit to ensuring that people from populations that have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent discrimination, poverty and inequality have an opportunity to participate in the workforce. In particular, given the historic underrepresentation of women in apprenticeship programs and the impact of the pandemic on women’s labor force participation there is even greater urgency to support women’s participation in Registered Apprenticeships.”
