This week is the U.S. Department of Labor’s 9th annual National Apprenticeship Week, and we were honored to celebrate it locally with students and educators at Pulaski County Schools by signing a proclamation to recognize Nov. 13 as Youth Apprenticeship Day in Somerset-Pulaski County.

More than 200 Pulaski County High School seniors are involved in work-based learning opportunities in our community, made possible through employer partnerships with Pulaski County Schools. These opportunities help students learn more about career paths available, earn wages while learning workplace skills, and avoid student-loan debt. Local businesses get the benefit of helpful workers through paid or unpaid internships and gain the ability to recruit, train and retain highly skilled employees through apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships alone can reduce turnover rates, increase productivity, lower the cost of recruitment and increase safety in the workplace or job site. For every dollar spent on a registered apprenticeship, employers see an average return on investment of $1.50.

We encourage local employers to take advantage of this Pulaski County Schools program, which is playing an important role in developing our workforce. Whether you’re interested in starting an internship or an apprenticeship, the district’s grant-funded personnel can help you get started! Contact Kristine McCollum at (606) 676-5103 or kristine.mccollum@pulaski.kyschools.us or Ashley Cummins at (606) 676-2697 or ashley.cummins@pulaski.kyschools.us.