WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the selection of the initial cohort of 207 officials and organizations chosen to serve as Apprenticeship Ambassadors to share their experiences and collaborate with the department to champion apprenticeship opportunities.
In November 2021, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative to bring together industry, labor, education, equity and workforce leaders to partner with the department’s Office of Apprenticeship to promote Registered Apprenticeships as a valuable workforce strategy in high-demand industries to develop and expand opportunities for people historically underserved.
The inaugural group of Apprenticeship Ambassadors consists of diverse partners from multiple industries who have demonstrated a willingness to use their Registered Apprenticeship experience and expertise to promote and expand these programs across all industries. The cohort is comprised of:
- Community-based organizations
- Educators
- Employers
- Equity partners
- Industry associations
- Labor organizations
- State organizations
- Program sponsors
- Workforce partners
Those named have committed to hosting 3,367 outreach and recruitment activities, 892 training session and 717 promotional meetings. They have also pledged to develop 460 new Registered Apprenticeship programs and 387 resources in their first year as ambassadors. The department continues to accept and review applications.
The department’s Office of Apprenticeship will collaborate with Apprenticeship Ambassadors to promote Registered Apprenticeship as part of the department’s commemoration of the 85th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act on Aug. 16, 2022. The commemoration will continue through the remainder of the year, and include National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 14-20, 2022.
View the list of the new Apprenticeship Ambassadors.
Read about the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative and submit an application to become an ambassador.