[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 55303-55304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25244]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 55303]]


                Proclamation 9676 of November 10, 2017

                
National Apprenticeship Week, 2017

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Apprenticeship Week, we recognize the 
                important role apprenticeships play in unleashing the 
                American workforce. Americans are known for our 
                remarkable productivity, industriousness, and 
                innovative thinking. By pairing these valued traits 
                with the right training, our Nation can renew one of 
                our greatest assets--the American worker.

                Affordable education options and training opportunities 
                that lead to stable, well-paying jobs are critical for 
                the health and well-being of our families and 
                communities. Our Nation's existing higher education 
                system, however, does not always provide the right 
                forms of training. According to a recent survey, only 
                11 percent of employers strongly agreed that America's 
                institutions of higher education are teaching graduates 
                the skills their companies need.

                At the same time, the cost of college is rising, 
                putting it out of reach for many and burdening others 
                with increasing amounts of student debt. Those in the 
                class of 2015 who borrowed to finance their education 
                graduated with nearly $30,000 in student debt, on 
                average. During the past administration, the stagnation 
                of wages, which increased by less than six-tenths of 1 
                percent per year, and education costs that ballooned by 
                more than 20 percent, prevented too many Americans from 
                getting the skills they need to thrive in today's 
                workforce.

                Apprenticeships provide an alternative path to a high-
                paying job by providing opportunities to gain real-
                world skills while earning a paycheck. In addition, 
                research suggests that graduates of apprenticeship 
                programs earn $300,000 more throughout their lifetime 
                than non-apprentices working in the same field. Because 
                new jobs in our 21st century economy--from healthcare 
                to advanced manufacturing--demand technical skills, 
                apprenticeship programs are uniquely able to provide 
                the affordable and relevant training workers need to 
                fill in-demand jobs throughout the economy.

                My Administration has taken important steps to promote 
                and expand apprenticeships. The Department of Labor is 
                fully implementing my Executive Order on Expanding 
                Apprenticeships in America, which directs it to work 
                with other Federal departments and agencies to make it 
                easier for companies to create and grow apprenticeship 
                programs. It also directs the agencies to explore ways 
                to support the development of apprenticeships in 
                industries where the earn-and-learn model has been 
                historically underutilized, including in key sectors 
                such as manufacturing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and 
                information technology.

                This week, I challenge businesses, educational 
                institutions, and government entities to expand 
                apprenticeship opportunities and other quality job-
                training programs to help open more doors for more 
                Americans. As we put the education and training of our 
                people first, American companies will join us by 
                rededicating their efforts to hire American. Together, 
                we will build an even stronger workforce and provide 
                new and exciting opportunities for generations of 
                Americans to learn, earn, and succeed.

[[Page 55304]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim November 13 through 
                November 19, 2017, as National Apprenticeship Week.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                second.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2017-25244
Filed 11-17-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P