Cantwell, Collins, Kaine, Gillibrand Announce Apprenticeship Bill to Train the Next Generation of American Workers

Statement

Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY) announced an updated Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2015 to help the next generation of American workers develop the skills they need to secure well-paying, high-demand jobs. The legislation also aids the United States' ongoing economic recovery by ensuring we retain our competitiveness and the most innovative workforce in the world.

Apprenticeship programs benefit both the company and employee, and also often lead to higher-paying jobs that help sustain the economy. The bipartisan legislation would create a $5,000 tax credit for employers to use apprenticeship programs to train workers in high-demand fields. This legislation would allow workers to gain career training in health care, manufacturing and technology industries. It would also allow veterans to receive credit for their previous military training and experience.

"When American workers have the training and skills they need, the United States is better equipped to tackle the competitive challenges and opportunities of the 21st century global economy. The Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act creates federal incentives for businesses to invest in US workers by creating or expanding their apprenticeship programs nationally. These programs are a critical component to closing the skills gap in high growth industries such as healthcare, aerospace and information technology. By training a skilled workforce, we unlock significant potential and create an opportunity for workers to earn good wages," said Washington Senator Maria Cantwell.

"Few issues are as important to the American people as the availability of good jobs in our communities," Maine Senator Susan Collins said. "I have met with numerous business owners throughout Maine who have jobs available but cannot find qualified and trained workers to fill these vacant positions. By helping to better connect the needs of our nation's employers with the training of our workforce, this bill will play an important role in the promotion of hiring and the creation of new good-paying American jobs."

"Apprenticeship programs are critical to growing our nation's talented workforce," said Senator Kaine, co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus. "Programs like The Apprentice School in Newport News demonstrate how apprenticeships prepare workers for high-paying, high-skilled career fields by providing them with technical training, often at a much lower cost than traditional post-secondary education programs. I'm proud to introduce this bill to encourage businesses to create apprenticeship programs, which benefit our workforce and our economy."

According to a study by the Department of Labor, workers who finish apprenticeships earn an average of $240,000 more in wages over a lifetime than job seekers with similar work experience. Not only do apprenticeships provide increased wages, they are beneficial to both employers and older employees ready to retire by letting them to phase into retirement, guaranteeing a cost-effective transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next. The seamless transfer of skills is particularly essential within trade-related industries, where apprenticeships allow companies to retain expertise while developing the skills of the younger workers.

In Washington state, where aerospace is a key economic driver, more than 20,000 new workers will be needed over the next decade. In addition, nearly 30 percent of current aviation workers will be eligible for retirement by 2016.There are 239 registered apprenticeship programs in Washington state that provide training in more than 350 fields ranging from assembly machinists to wind turbine technicians, according to state Department of Labor and Industries data.