Preparing workers for new Iowa jobs

There’s never been a better time to train for a good-paying, rewarding career through an apprenticeship program.

The many new projects coming to Iowa through this year’s federal economic recovery initiatives will need skilled workers. Apprenticeships are one key avenue for preparing many of those workers to take on the thousands of jobs being created.

Apprenticeships allow Iowans to learn on the job while earning a paycheck, making them a win for many job seekers, employers and industries.

Students get classroom and technical education, worksite experience and industry-recognized credentials. Employers benefit from connecting with students early on and providing hands-on training in the specific skills their workplace requires.

Today, Iowa has 850 Registered Apprenticeship programs statewide. All of our 15 community colleges and nearly 60 Iowa high schools offer apprenticeship training in a variety of fields in partnership with local businesses.

According to Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa broke Registered Apprenticeship records in 2021, adding 181 new programs, 51 new occupations and 4,350 new apprentices. Over the year, 1,846 employers participated in programs supporting more than 8,500 apprentices.

I support efforts to continue building strong Iowa apprenticeship opportunities. In the last couple of years, the Legislature has improved how training grants are awarded to apprenticeship programs (HF 559), and has made it more feasible for small and medium-sized Iowa businesses to start programs and for K-12 students to have workplace experiences (HF 2629).

To learn more about the hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities for Iowa job seekers and employers, go to earnandlearniowa.gov.

State Sen. Kevin Kinney represents Iowa Senate District 39, which includes Keokuk County and much of Washington and Johnson counties. Contact him at 319-631-4667. Email him at kevin.kinney@legis.iowa.gov.