In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (November 17-23, 2024), Pierce Manufacturing is proud to announce it has been selected as the recipient of the CESA 6 Youth Apprenticeship Career Pathways Excellence Award. This award recognizes Pierce’s outstanding commitment to providing diverse career opportunities and shaping the next generation of professionals through its Youth Apprenticeship Program. Pierce team members attended an event on Friday, November 1,to accept this award.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the manufacturing skills gap in the U.S. is projected to result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. While Pierce team members have made transformative pivots to create efficiencies, the company continues to celebrate 30, 40, and even 50-year anniversaries, which has resulted in a generational shift in the workforce.
One tactic Pierce’s team has established to remain committed to building its workforce of the future is the implementation of the Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program – a partnership with CESA 6 and other YA Coordinators throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The Youth Apprenticeship Program integrates school-based and work-based learning. Students accepted into the program continue taking classes at their high school while working as an apprentice at a participating business.
Through CESA 6, there are 75 distinct career programs for students to obtain experience and training, and as the program has grown and expanded, more than 37,500 students state-wide have been employed among 17,207 participating employers. The program requires academically eligible high school juniors and seniors work at least 450 hours each year of their apprenticeship with their sponsor employer and take classes related to their placement.
The Youth Apprenticeship Program at Pierce integrates school-based and work-based learning, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in various career sectors, including welding, assembly, and engineering. Pierce’s dedication to fostering a skilled and prepared workforce is evident through its collaboration with local technical schools and commitment to creating pathways for students to succeed in the trades.
In addition, Pierce Manufacturing was honored with the Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Award from the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA). This award celebrates Pierce’s continued efforts to strengthen partnerships between the manufacturing industry and education, providing invaluable opportunities for students and addressing local workforce needs.
The award was presented at the NEWMA Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards event which took place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Resch Expo in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
For more information about careers and the Youth Apprenticeship Program at Pierce Manufacturing, visit www.piercemfg.com/pierce/careers.
