Governor Laura Kelly recently signed Executive Order #22-07 establishing the Office of Registered Apprenticeship within the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Kelly Administration says it intend for the office to help meet workforce needs of Kansas businesses.
Workforce and higher education leaders gathered in Topeka at Washburn Institute of Technology’s state-of-the-art auto body repair shop for the signing.
“We have spurred remarkable economic growth here in Kansas, but to continue that success, we have to ensure Kansas workers have the skills and opportunities they need to compete in today’s global economy,” Gov. Kelly said. “I created this new Office of Registered Apprenticeship to prioritize fostering a workforce that meets the needs of Kansas businesses and of essential industries like education and healthcare.”
A press release from the Kansas Department of Commerce announced that the Office of Registered Apprenticeship will:
- Evaluate, and report annually on, the extent, quality and impact of registered apprenticeships in Kansas.
- Develop strategies to modernize the registered apprenticeship program to include additional industries such as healthcare, IT, agricultural manufacturing, and distribution and logistics – all critical segments in the Kansas economy.
- Develop and advocate for registered apprenticeship program policies that place a special focus on veterans, women, people of color, those formerly incarcerated and others with barriers to successful employment.
Kansas Department of Commerce Director of Internships and Apprenticeships Shonda Atwater explained that partnerships between industries and training providers will be critical for Kansas to see growth in registered apprenticeships.
“The new Office of Apprenticeship will serve as the primary resource to connect industry partners and training providers, in order to prepare Kansans for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” Atwater said.
“Registered apprenticeships give workers the tools they need to learn a trade and help build a stronger, more resilient Kansas economy. In fact, an apprenticeship program is how I first entered the construction industry,” said Alise Martiny, Business Manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council.
Information about the Office of Registered Apprenticeship can be found at ksapprenticeship.org. Data tracked on the homepage of the site (accurate as of September 1, 2022) shows a total number of 3,500 Kansas apprentices and counting.
