Four new occupational pathways in Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program have been added this academic year.
The new business administration and education pathways and associated careers include:
- Early Childhood Education
- School Age Education
- Administrative Professional
- Human Resources Professional
Since September 2023, approximately 413 students and 326 employers have signed up for the four new pathways. The new options increase the total number of Youth Apprenticeship pathways to 79 in 13 career clusters.
Youth Apprenticeship is a one-year or two-year “earn while you learn” program for high school juniors and seniors consisting of work and related classroom instruction in a chosen occupation. This program implements a dual training system that combines skills obtained on the job site with technical knowledge in the classroom.
Youth Apprenticeship, which was created in 1991, is run through a consortium comprised of school districts, technical colleges, chambers of commerce, and other partners. More than 80 percent of Wisconsin’s 421 public school districts had students enrolled in Youth Apprenticeship for the 2022-23 school year.
Employers interested in becoming a youth apprenticeship sponsor can find more information here. Students interested in becoming a youth apprentice can find more information here.
Last year, Gov. Evers celebrated an all-time high of 8,357 Youth Apprentices enrolled during the 2022-23 school year, with a record 5,719 employer sponsors participating. In November, the governor also announced the state’s Registered Apprenticeship program achieved a record 16,384 enrolled apprentices, an all-time record in the program’s 112-year history and surpassing the previous year’s record-high participation.
