Recognizing November 8 through November 14, 2020 as National Apprenticeship Week and honoring ApprenticeshipPHL and the District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund for its continued commitment to providing job skills, training, and opportunity to all Philadelphians.

WHEREAS, As described by the Department of Labor, “National Apprenticeship Week was established by the U.S. Department of Labor to celebrate the impact apprenticeships have in helping Americans learn skills for jobs in growing industries”; and

WHEREAS, ApprenticeshipPHL partners with local manufacturing, biomedical, building trades, healthcare and human services, and information technology companies to increase opportunity and wages for apprentices; and

WHEREAS, ApprenticeshipPHL partners with Philadelphia Works, JEVS Human Services, The City of Philadelphia, The Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region, District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund, Philadelphia Youth Network, Keystone Development Partnership, The School District of Philadelphia, & Communities in Schools of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund works with every one of its students to create practical pathways for career opportunity and advancement in the health care industry, serving over 4,000 students annually at the 35,000-square foot Breslin Learning Center in Center City; and

WHEREAS, Apprentices make an average starting salary of $60,000 a year, roughly $20,000 above the average salary in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Workers who trained as apprentices earn on average $300,000 more over their careers; and

WHEREAS, There are over half a million apprenticeship opportunities in thousands of different occupations nationwide, allowing career seekers to draw on a wide variety of skills; and

WHEREAS, 150,000 companies nationwide participate in apprenticeship; and

WHEREAS, 91% of apprenticeship grads stay with their company; and

WHEREAS, For every single a company invests in apprenticeship, it sees a return on investment of about $1.50; and

WHEREAS, Union apprenticeship programs help workers gain access to skilled trades and union membership, leading to hire wages, better benefits, safer workplaces, and career-long training and development; and

WHEREAS, During National Apprenticeship Week, 33 veteran-focused and 46 women-focused events will be held throughout the country to highlight the diversity among apprentices and apprenticeships; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Labor states that Apprenticeships “Enable employers to fill open jobs, improve productivity and profitability, and reduce turnover while providing the American workforce with pathways to start new careers and acquire the skills needed for good jobs”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes November 8 through November 14, 2020 as National Apprenticeship Week and honors ApprenticeshipPHL for its continued efforts in improving the lives of all Philadelphians.

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