AWS Issues Proclamation for the 10th Anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week

To mark the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) from November 17-24, 2024, the American Welding Society (AWS) has issued a proclamation reaffirming its commitment to advancing a skilled welding workforce through registered apprenticeships.

Registered apprenticeships play a critical role in building a skilled workforce nationwide, ensuring job quality and creating well-paying career pathways. AWS’s proclamation calls on industry leaders and employers to champion apprenticeship programs for individuals from all backgrounds, including those from historically underserved communities.

“National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for us to invest in the future of our industry,” said AWS President Michael Krupnicki. “Through registered apprenticeships, we can address the skills gap and create rewarding, lucrative career paths through hands-on, paid training in welding, inspection, and automation.”

AWS believes registered apprenticeship programs are essential for strengthening the welding workforce and addressing critical needs of the nation’s infrastructure, supply chain, and clean energy sectors. To support employers in launching or enhancing apprenticeship programs the AWS Foundation has developed weldingapprenticeship.com, a resource hub providing guidance on structuring registered apprenticeship programs for welders, welding inspectors and automation technicians.

For more on how AWS’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs can support your organization’s workforce needs, visit weldingapprenticeship.com.

The official National Apprenticeship Week website offers details on activities happening nationwide.

The American Welding Society is the worldwide authority in the development of standards, certifications and educational programming for the welding, allied joining and cutting community. We are a not-for-profit organization committed to connecting the welding industry to our extensive collection of resources, informing our community of technological advancements and developing the next generation of welding professionals with the help of the AWS Foundation. AWS serves over 60,000 members worldwide, is composed of 22 Districts with 250 Sections and Student Chapters, and includes more than 1500 volunteers in over 200 technical committees, subcommittees and task groups. For more information, visit the American Welding Society’s website at aws.org.

aws.org/foundation 

About AWS Foundation
Founded in 1989, the AWS Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Welding Society, the nonprofit organization with a global mission to advance the science, technology, and, application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes. The AWS Foundation works to ensure the growth and development of the welding industry through various initiatives, including, career awareness, scholarship programs, and grants to institutions that offer welding education and training. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we rely on the generosity of our partners who understand the value of welding and its role in building a better, stronger economy.