Hearing of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee of the House Education and the Workforce Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Guthrie, Hearing on Expanding Options for Employers and Workers Through Earn-and-Learn Opportunities

Hearing

Good morning, and welcome to today's subcommittee hearing. I'd like to thank our panel of
witnesses and our members for joining today's important discussion on apprenticeships and
opportunities for us to grow our nation's workforce. I'd especially like to welcome Ms.
Stacey Hughes, a constituent of mine who serves as the state chair of the Kentucky
Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, or KYFAME, and Mr. Robert Peglow, a
Kentucky student participating in KYFAME. I look forward to hearing from you about how
Kentucky is working to help young people get the skills they need to obtain good-paying
jobs.
Every day hardworking Americans search for a good-paying job that will lead them to a
successful career. Many Americans find a pathway to a good-paying job through
apprenticeship programs that provide real earn-and-learn opportunities that often turn into
careers.
For workers, apprenticeships are a chance to prepare for today's high-skilled, in-demand
jobs alongside long-time industry professionals. In fact, based on the National Household
Education Survey, an estimated 2.1 million Americans participated in apprenticeships last
year.
Employers also see apprenticeships as an outlet to invest in work-based learning programs
that attract and help to retain highly qualified employees, and many have seen the results
in the form of increased productivity and greater innovation.
Our hearing today will explore how apprenticeship-style programs promote workforce
development, while also looking at federal programs that are in need of improvement.
One aspect of apprenticeships where this committee sees room for improvement in order to
help workers and employers is "registered" apprenticeships.
Currently, registered apprenticeships are programs officially "registered" with the
Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship (OA) or a state office of apprenticeship.
The Department of Labor has issued regulations requiring that registered apprenticeships
meet twenty-six specific requirements relating to program design. DOL regulations also
require that these programs adhere to equal employment opportunity regulations that are
specific to apprenticeships.
(More)While the department continues to regulate the registered apprenticeship program, workers
and businesses are not convinced this program is something that is best for workforce
development.
In 2016, only 206,000 individuals nationwide became apprentices through the registered
apprenticeship program. Further, less than half of earn-and-learn programs choose to
register their programs with the Department of Labor.
The registered apprenticeship program is yet another one-size-fits-all approach that works
better for Washington than it does for businesses and students who wish to use
apprenticeships as a way to grow our workforce.
Rather than doubling down on the failed attempts of previous administrations to expand the
registered apprenticeship program, this committee is looking for a better way to build on
the successful efforts businesses have found to grow their own apprenticeship programs
outside of the registered apprenticeships program.
It should be noted that any effort to promote apprenticeship opportunities needs to provide
employees and job creators with the flexibility to innovate and develop high quality earn-
and-learn programs without the burdens of Washington overreach.
This has been the approach of the committee in our many efforts to strengthen workforce
development this Congress, and it will continue to be our approach for the future.
Today's hearing is part of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce's ongoing
efforts to strengthen our workforce for the future, and it is even more important in the
realm of apprenticeships now that the White House has taken note of the true success
apprenticeship programs are having for workers and employers alike.
I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today on how they have been able to create
their own innovative apprenticeship programs, and how we can strengthen these efforts to
help close the skills gap that exists in our country.

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