Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program will add four new occupational pathways to its program offerings in the 2024–25 school year: law enforcement, fire protection, project management, and barbering/cosmetology.
The new pathways, which combine on-the-job skill training with classroom learning, bring the total number of occupational pathways to 83 in 16 program areas. Youth Apprenticeship opportunities are offered locally by consortia composed of school districts, technical colleges, chambers of commerce, and other partners.
The final 2023–25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers included $7 million in additional funding over the biennium for the Youth Apprenticeship program. In May, DWD announced an all-time high of 9,932 youth apprentices enrolled during the 2023–24 school year, with a record 6,671 employers participating. The state is on track to break these records again, with students enrolled in Youth Apprenticeship from more than 95% of Wisconsin’s eligible public school districts and 46 participating private or charter schools.
Employers interested in becoming a youth apprenticeship sponsor can find more information here. Students interested in becoming a youth apprentice can find more information here.
