Waterford, Michigan – Oakland County Michigan Works! is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week Nov. 14-20 by hosting two special workshops on launching and growing a registered apprenticeship program. There are thousands of dollars available from Oakland County through the Advantage: Apprenticeships program to help employers secure and train apprentices in a variety of fields, from construction to information technology to healthcare.

“Registered apprenticeship programs help employers develop talent and, in turn, provide valuable skills our workers need to succeed,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, employers interested in an apprenticeship program can attend a workshop featuring guest speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Workforce Intelligence Network, as well as Williams International and Robert Bosch, LLC, both of whom have launched registered apprenticeship programs in recent years.

The apprenticeship workshop is being held at Oakland County Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd., in Waterford.  Advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Oakland County municipal officials who are considering a public sector apprenticeship program can attend a virtual program on Thursday, Nov. 17. Guest speakers include a representative from Oakland County, which launched a DOL-registered apprenticeship program earlier this year, and the Oakland County Michigan Works! apprenticeship success coordinator.  To register, click here.

Oakland County has 200 apprenticeship programs administered by 67 employers, improving their productivity and profitability, as well as providing training and good paying jobs for employees. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 94 percent of apprentices who complete their program retain employment, with an average annual salary of $70,000.

The Bosch program lasts approximately 12 months and apprentices are required to complete specific learning hours and on-the-job training to ensure they are developing the skills essential to the job as an application developer. The Advantage: Apprenticeships program provides funding to help offset apprentice tuition, on-the-job wages, and other related costs.

“Employers are always looking for a competitive edge, an advantage over their competitors,” Oakland County Workforce Development Manager Jennifer Llewellyn said.  “Registered apprenticeship programs pay off today and well into the future. They build employee loyalty and provide a viable, rewarding career path.”

About Oakland County Michigan Works!

Oakland County Michigan Works! operates centers in Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Troy, and Waterford. Combined, they assist more than 105,000 job seekers annually. Services include career coaching, interviewing and job search workshops, placement assistance, training courses and job trend information.

The centers also assist more than 3,000 employers seeking assistance with talent recruitment, apprenticeship programs, job fairs, candidate pre-screening, hiring, and training support, layoff support and labor market data.

Staff are available to work one-on-one with job seekers to build their resumes, prepare for job interviews and help address other needs. To schedule a virtual or in-person meeting, call 1-248-858-5520 and select the office nearest to you. The centers are hosting several virtual workshops for job seekers. A schedule can be found at OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.