[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9542 of November 10, 2016

National Apprenticeship Week, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

When I took office, our economy was in freefall--millions of Americans
lost their jobs and paid the price of the worst recession of our

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time. But with grit and determination, our people fought their way back
and began working to rebuild an economy that works for everyone.
Although we have added more than 15 million jobs in the last 6 years,
too many people are still feeling left behind in our 21st-century
economy. And because the jobs of today and tomorrow require more
advanced skills and training, apprenticeship programs play an
increasingly important role in helping people succeed in the workforce.
This week, we celebrate the ways this job-driven training model prepares
Americans for meaningful employment, and we resolve to expand access to
this essential pathway to opportunity.
Registered apprenticeships connect job-seekers to better paying jobs
that are in high demand, and by providing hands-on experiences and
allowing Americans to earn while they learn, they help workers gain the
skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in our modern economy. More
than 90 percent of apprentices find employment after completing their
programs, with graduates earning an average starting salary over
$60,000. In addition to benefitting employees, apprenticeship programs
also help employers by increasing productivity and innovation with a
high return on investment. A variety of industries--from healthcare to
construction to information technology and advanced manufacturing--are
using apprenticeship programs to meet their workforce needs. To bolster
the competitiveness of those industries and others, it is imperative
that our Nation continues investing in apprenticeship programs. Across
our country, State and local leaders have done just that--in some cases
expanding apprenticeships by over 20 percent in their regions. And since
2014, 290 colleges have joined in the effort to offer college credit
toward a degree for completing apprenticeship programs.
My Administration applauds these widespread efforts and remains
committed to supporting apprenticeship programs. Two years ago, I
announced a goal to double the number of registered apprenticeships, and
with 125,000 more active apprenticeships today than in 2014, we have
seen the largest 3-year increase in nearly a decade. We invested
unprecedented levels of Federal funding in apprenticeships, including
recently awarding more than $50 million in new grants to States through
the ApprenticeshipUSA initiative. This year, we also invested over $20
million to start new apprenticeship programs and help historically
underrepresented individuals--including women, minorities, and people
with disabilities--access apprenticeship programs. Last year, I signed
the first-ever annual Federal funding for apprenticeship programs into
law, and I will keep calling on the Congress to continue funding these
efforts so that this work is carried forward for years to come. And
because those who have served our country in uniform deserve every
opportunity to enjoy the American dream they helped defend, we are
working to provide assistance to service members and veterans who seek
to enter registered apprenticeship programs.
During National Apprenticeship Week, employers, sponsors, and leaders
across our country will host open houses to highlight the significant
value of apprenticeships in our economy. Let us encourage more employers
to offer--and more workers to take advantage of--these indispensable
learning and training opportunities, and together let us continue
working to equip the American workforce to meet the demands of an ever
changing future so it is filled with prosperity and opportunity for all
who are willing to work for it.

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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, 2016, as National Apprenticeship Week. I urge the Congress,
State and local governments, educational institutions, industry and
labor leaders, and all Americans to support apprenticeship programs in
the United States and to raise awareness of their contributions to our
country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
BARACK OBAMA