The National Skills Coalition (NSC) has created a series of toolkits to help states develop a range of policies designed to bridge their skills gap, help people train for in-demand occupations, and help businesses find the skilled workers they need to succeed.

The toolkits are part of NSC’s skills equity agenda – an effort to advance state policies that expand access to middle-skill training through policies on job-driven financial aid, SNAP E&T, stackable credentials, alignment, integrated education and training, and TANF E&T.

Read more and download the toolkits on NSC's Skills Blog.

An Oct. 5, 2016, article published by Automation Alley offers "some practical best practices for accomplishing this vital goal of refreshing the skills and knowledge base of your organization." Included are tips for engaging and developing Millenials and Gen-Xers, as well as recommendations to "rethink how you bring new employees up to speed in your organization."

The aticle points out that 90 percent of Millenials will leave a job in less than three years and credits this to their "intent on tackling new challenges." This trait, the article posits, is "good news for manufacturers, who must continually innovate."

Read the entire article at Automation Alley's website.

Forbes recently published an article titled "Why We Desperately Need To Bring Back Vocational Training In Schools".

The article concludes, among other things, that "The demise of vocational education at the high school level has bred a skills shortage in manufacturing today, and with it a wealth of career opportunities for both under-employed college grads and high school students looking for direct pathways to interesting, lucrative careers. Many of the jobs in manufacturing are attainable through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and vocational programs offered at community colleges."

Read the complete article here.

June 2, 2016 -- Today the Department of Labor announced the award of $10.4 million in ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grants to help expand and diversify registered apprenticeship programs nationwide. These grants are part of ApprenticeshipUSA, the department’s coordinated effort with industry and education leaders, nonprofits, and local governments to highlight the benefits of apprenticeship and expand the use of this time-tested, earn-while-you-learn model.  Awards were made to 51 states and territories and the District of Columbia. 

These accelerator grants will help states develop a strategic plan and build partnerships for apprenticeship expansion and diversification with State education, workforce and economic development systems.  States will also receive support to develop strategic plans for encouraging businesses to launch Registered Apprenticeship programs in high-demand industries including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, construction, and transportation.

These investments are part of a historic bipartisan Congressional effort to appropriate funds specifically for apprenticeship for the first time, and align with President Obama’s bold challenge to double and diversify the number of apprenticeships by 2019. 

Each Accelerator grant of $200,000 will allow states, including Michigan, to develop a strategic plan and build partnerships for apprenticeship expansion and diversification with state education, workforce and economic development systems.

In addition, in the coming weeks, the department will announce the availability of an additional $50 million in State Expansion Grants for those looking to expand their capacity to collaborate with employers and start new apprenticeship programs across diverse industries and communities.

Both of these ApprenticeshipUSA State Grants are designed to help states plan and implement strategic state strategies to expand Registered Apprenticeship across the country.  Grantees will utilize the grants to help state governments integrate apprenticeship into their education and workforce systems; engage industry and other partners at scale to expand apprenticeship to new sectors and new populations; support state capacity to conduct outreach and work with employers to start new programs; provide support to promote greater inclusion and diversity in apprenticeship, and implement state innovations, incentives and system reforms. By investing in state strategies for growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities, these funds will help strengthen the foundation for the rapid and sustained expansion of quality apprenticeship nationwide.

For more information on this funding announcement please see the links below:

• Press Release: www.doleta.gov/oa/pdf/state_grants_press_release.pdf
• ApprenticeshipUSA: www.dol.gov/apprenticeship

Jen Guarino, a VP at Detroit-based Shinola, recently appeared on Michigan Radio's Stateside with Cynthia Canty program to discuss how to get more young people into skilled trades.

In an associated article on Michgan Radio's website, Guarino explores the notion that the "skills gap" in America is, in fact, a "values gap"...and how it can be overcome. In the article, she observes:

"At some point in our nation’s history, we stopped considering skilled trades viable, credible and honorable career options. We stigmatized them so much that we created a lack of interest and an overall devaluation of the trades in education, industry and society at large."

To read the full article and listen to the Stateside program, click here.

At a June 25, 2015, press conference in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Dept. of Labor announced a collaboration with Switzerland to launch an apprenticeship program in the U.S. modeled after the Swiss vocational education system. The U.S. and Switzerland are planning to sign on July 9, 2015, a Joint Declaration of Intent to collaborate on this venture and to exchange policy information and best practices in vocational education and training.

In Switzerland, students as young as 15 sign 3- or 4-year contracts with an employer’s apprenticeship program, which pays them as they learn skills, according to Martin Dahinden, Swiss ambassador to the U.S. Two-thirds of 16-year-olds in Switzerland choose to start their careers via an apprenticeship as they attend school.

Read SHRM's full article here!