WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- Northcentral Technical College and its connected schools will be getting over $280,000 to fund this year's youth apprenticeship programs.
It's part of an overall $2.2 million dollars in funding being provided to the program this year. Department of workforce development secretary Reggie Newson says the programs are key to getting young people into the workforce faster. "Employers like to hire young people who have work experience and the youth apprenticeships allows young people to gain valuable work experience and connect with employers so it provides a litany of options for them." NTC and it's partner schools and businesses will be training 315 apprentices this year in a wide variety of fields including nursing, banking and other technical professions.
Newson says it's also a chance for businesses to take the initiative in hiring more young people with training and skills. "Employers need to know that there are tools out there like the youth apprenticeship program and the regular adult registered apprenticeship program where they can develop their own talent and do onboarding and screening and making sure the individual meets their requisite requirements for employment." A strong majority of businesses that take on apprentices do end up employing those students by the end of their term.
Department of workforce development secretary Reggie Newson says Governor walker is committed to trying to get more youth into the field in well paying jobs. "This is a part of his overall strategy to align education, workforce and economic development, and make sure that we can continue to make pathways and credentials for young people graduating so we can get as many people into the workforce as possible."
Wisconsin's YA program has operated since 1991 and today includes 40 different occupations.