A press event at the state capital in Springfield kicked off the 5th annual
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2019 in Illinois. Apprentices and host companies across the state joined Governor Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, and Director Erin Guthrie of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Apprentices and companies presented several sectors and business groups, including the
Chicago Apprentice Network,
Illinois Manufacturers' Association,
Illinois Workforce Partnership, and
Illinois Community College Board. Employers represented banking and financing, information technology, manufacturing, construction and trades, insurance, healthcare, automotive, retail, hospitality and service, and even the
National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) - the only Center in the world!
Julio Rodriguez, Deputy Director of the Office of Employment and Training at DCEO, said, "Apprenticeships are useful in getting direct work experience. The employer hires the person right then and there. The training is happening simultaneously as the person is working. The idea is that the sector identifies its needs and begins working with those institutions and providers to help build that talent."
