PROCLAMATION
by the
Governor of the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, 2024 marks the 8th year of Rhode Island celebrating Apprenticeship Week, highlighting the crucial role Registered Apprenticeship plays in our economy and its life-changing impact on individuals and communities; and

WHEREAS, while Rhode Island has grown its workforce, reaching record levels of statewide labor participation and leading New England in annual percent change in employment, actual wages remain below our regional neighbors; and

WHEREAS, the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs and expanding access to Registered Apprenticeship employment opportunities is a key strategy in the 2030 Rhode to Prosperity to raise per capita income in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship is a proven industry-led workforce development model that creates a clear path for Rhode Islanders to higher-wage employment and enables employers to develop and retain the highly-skilled workforce needed to drive Rhode Island’s economy forward; and

WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship offers Rhode Islanders a road to higher wages by providing structured, earn-while-you-learn on-the-job training, a career ladder with predictable wage increases, and post-secondary credentials resulting in stable employment and fulfilling careers; and

WHEREAS, according to a Mathematica Study, individuals who complete a Registered Apprenticeship earn $300,000 more over the lifetime of their careers than those who do not; and

WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship is an important tool in closing the wage gap on racial and gender disparities across Rhode Island’s diverse communities; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island has expanded the use of Registered Apprenticeship to 38 new occupations, over 150 new employers, and created apprentice employment opportunities for more than 2,000 Rhode Islanders in industries like healthcare and the care economy, marine trades, manufacturing, and more while supporting new entrants in the gold standard Building and Construction Trades Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and 

WHEREAS, the State of Rhode Island recognizes the vital role of Registered Apprenticeship in connecting skill development to employment, creating a talent pipeline to good, quality jobs, and raising wages for Rhode Islanders while addressing urgent workforce challenges across sectors.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Governor McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, do hereby proclaim November 17 – 23, 2024, as:

RHODE ISLAND APPRENTICESHIP WEEK