You may have seen more high school students in workplaces in the past year thanks to the boost of participation in the Youth Apprenticeship program around the state. 

After strong numbers last year, the Department of Workforce Development announced record participation in the programs amongst high school students. The record-high total of 8,357 youth apprentices in the 2022-2023 school year surpassed the previous record of 6,392 apprentices for the 2021-2022 school year, continuing a year-over-year, record-breaking trend. Northeast Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship’s Interim Coordinator Adam Strassburg says that the higher numbers in the area are thanks to students becoming more interested, and more businesses willing to bring in the apprentices. 

The Youth Apprenticeship program recently added 14 new pathways and has plans to create pathways in five broad program areas: education and training; business management and administration; government and public administration; human services; and law, public safety, corrections, and security. The new YA occupational pathways will be in place by the fall of 2024.