USDOL Funds Will Allow for Hundreds of New Registered Apprentices

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) has received over $840,000 from the US Department of Labor to expand Registered Apprenticeships across the state. The Apprenticeship State Expansion grant covers the next three years and will allow NDOL to assist businesses with new program development.

“The ‘earn while you learn’ model of Registered Apprenticeships is growing our state,” said Governor Pete Ricketts. “Apprenticeships put young Nebraskans on a path to learn valuable skills and to gain technical expertise so that they can get high-paying jobs. At the same time, they help the state’s businesses to find proficient, highly trained Nebraskans to join their teams.”

The grant allows for enrolling over 400 new Registered Apprentices. As of March 2019, there were approximately 125 Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs in Nebraska, representing an increase of 44 percent since 2016. NDOL was awarded the ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grant in 2016.

“Registered Apprenticeships have grown tremendously in the last three years and this funding will allow us to build on that momentum,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “We look forward to new partnerships with employers and educational institutions as they connect workers with quality job opportunities.”

Current Registered Apprenticeships exist in manufacturing, information technology, construction, healthcare and other industries. Depending on the occupation, an apprentice spends 2,000 hours per year on the job to complete a given program. Employers have flexibility in determining how this time is spent, but must meet USDOL standards. In addition to the on-the-job training, RA programs also provide related instruction to participants via the internet, the classroom, or other methods. Registered Apprenticeships provide a nationally recognized credential from the US Department of Labor upon completion.

Companies interested in starting a RA program may contact Scott Asmus with the Nebraska Department of Labor at 402-471-9928. Job seekers interested in participating in a RA should contact their local Nebraska Department of Labor office. More information is also available on the Department’s YouTube channel and at http://dol.nebraska.gov.