Governor Mills Proclaims Nov. 11-17 Apprenticeship Week

November 11, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 8, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Picard, Maine Department of Labor, jessica.l.picard@maine.gov or 207-621-5099

Governor Mills Proclaims Nov. 11-17 Apprenticeship Week

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Labor is pleased to announce that Governor Janet Mills has signed a proclamation declaring the week of November 11 National Apprenticeship Week. The proclamation joins a series of announcements and events being held across the country.

"All Maine people should be able to access the skills training they need to succeed at good-paying jobs across our state while still being able to provide for their family," said Governor Mills. The Maine Apprenticeship Program allows Maine employers to train the workforce they rely on and offers employees the chance to expand their skills as they earn a paycheck a win-win for Maine's economy.

Since 1941, the Maine Apprenticeship Program has given Mainers the opportunity to learn and earn at the same time, Commissioner Laura Fortman said. With the states current tight labor market and low unemployment of 2.9%, many Maine employers are using apprenticeship as a tool to build their skilled workforce. The program helps businesses, while offering workers higher wages and better employment outcomes.

Currently Maine has 904 registered apprentices and 112 registered apprenticeship programs, serving 193 employers. The Maine Apprenticeship Program (MAP) is for employers wanting to expand or upskill their workforce, and for those at least 16 years old that wish to gain new skills and learn while on the job of their desired profession. The program is formal, with a designated length of at least a year and related classroom instruction along with the on-the-job learning, but is flexible in that it can be modified to meet the employers needs.

Representatives of the Maine Apprenticeship Program will be on hand at the Southern Midcoast Apprenticeship Jobs and Resource Fair on November 12 in Brunswick. Stop in, look at what jobs are available, and learn more about the program! Southern Midcoast Apprenticeship Jobs and Resource Fair:

November 12, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - 29 Sewall St., Brunswick, ME 04011 (Within the L.L. Bean Learning Commons Building on Brunswick Landing)

Apprentice resource providers, education providers, and employers with apprenticeship positions will be on hand to showcase the exciting benefits of apprenticeship, including:

• Bureau of Employment Services
• Dead River Company
• Everett J. Prescott, Inc.
• General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Corp (BIW)
• Career Systems Development Corp. - Job Corps
• Kris-Way Truck Leasing Inc.
• Lepage Bakeries Inc.
• Mid Coast-Parkview Health
• Military Talent Source
• Reed & Reed, Inc.

For more information please contact John Wagner at john.w.wagner@maine.gov or visit http://www.mainecareercenter.com/locations/jobfair.shtml?id=1603133

The fair is sponsored by the Southern Midcoast CareerCenter and Southern Maine Community College. The full proclamation can be read here: https://www.maine.gov/labor/docs/2019/NationalApprenticeshipWeekNovember11ththrough17th.pdf

For more information on the Maine Apprenticeship Program, please visit our website: https://www.maine.gov/labor/jobs_training/apprenticeship/index.shtml