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Recognizing November 14 through November 20, 2022 as National Apprenticeship Week and honoring ApprenticeshipPHL for its continued commitment to connecting Philadelphians to family-supporting careers.
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WHEREAS, As described by the Department of Labor, “National Apprenticeship Week was established by the U.S. Department of Labor to celebrate the impact apprenticeships have in helping Americans learn skills for jobs in growing industries”; and
WHEREAS, ApprenticeshipPHL partners with local manufacturing, biomedical, building trades, healthcare and human services, and information technology companies to increase opportunity and wages for apprentices; and
WHEREAS, ApprenticeshipPHL and Families Achieving Success Together Foundation have partnered with AFSCME Local 1739, District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund, Hilco Development Partners Inc., Laborers District Council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein, the Philadelphia Apprentice Network, the School District of Philadelphia, Accenture, and Aon, to host a number of National Apprenticeship week events to expand apprenticeship opportunities for residents in Philadelphia including youth, young adults, and women; and
WHEREAS, ApprenticeshipPHL partners with Bucks County Office of Workforce and Economic Development, Chester County Workforce Development Board, Delaware County Workforce Development Board, Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, PA Apprenticeship & Training Office, JEVS Human Services, The City of Philadelphia, Community College of Philadelphia,, Educational Data Systems, Inc., The Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Keystone Development Partnership, Launch of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Youth Network, Progress Worx, Urban Technology Project, and The Wistar Institute to not only expand apprentice opportunities but also to diversify the talent pipeline across industries; and
WHEREAS, Apprentices make an average starting salary of $77,000 a year, roughly $30,000 above the average annual salary in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Workers who trained as apprentices earn on average $300,000 more over their careers; and
WHEREAS, There are over half a million apprenticeship opportunities in thousands of different occupations nationwide, allowing career seekers to draw on a wide variety of skills; and
WHEREAS, 150,000 companies nationwide participate in apprenticeships; and
WHEREAS, 93% of apprenticeship grads stay with their company; and
WHEREAS, Companies that invest in apprenticeships see a return on investment of about 50%; and
WHEREAS, Union apprenticeship programs help workers gain access to skilled trades and union membership, leading to higher wages, better benefits, safer workplaces, and career-long training and development; and
WHEREAS, Professional apprenticeship programs play a critical role in closing the skills gap, leveraging untapped talent pools, providing greater access to digital economy jobs, and helping reskill workers whose jobs have been, or will be, disrupted by technology; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Labor states that Apprenticeships “enable employers to fill open jobs, improve productivity and profitability, and reduce turnover while providing the American workforce with pathways to start new careers and acquire the skills needed for good jobs;” now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes November 14 through November 20, 2022, as National Apprenticeship Week and honors ApprenticeshipPHL for its continued commitment to connecting Philadelphians to family-supporting careers.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to ApprenticeshipPHL, further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body.
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