PHOTO COURTESY OF SITES.ED.GOV

MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami-Dade Youth Pre-Apprenticeship Program (MDYP) will highlight the importance of apprenticeship as a viable option for students who do not plan to attend college, or who enter the military after graduation from high school, during National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 11-17.

Local programs for recognizing apprenticeships include :

Thursday, Nov. 14, Homestead High School, 9 – 11 a.m.; and Coral Gables High School, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 15, Carol City High School, 9 – 11 a.m.; and Edison High School, 1 to 2:15 p.m.

National Apprenticeship Week was established by the U.S. Department of Labor to showcase the positive impact apprenticeships have on addressing skills gaps and preparing the workforce for the current and future jobs.

MDYP was initiated three years ago by District 7 Commissioner Xavier L. Suarez in partnership with CareerSource South Florida, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, State of Florida Department of Education and 12 construction trades. It is the only district in Florida with such a program.

Apprenticeship by the numbers:

• Workers who complete apprenticeship programs earn an average of $300,000 more over their career when compared to peers who don’t.

• After apprenticeship completion, 94 percent of apprentices retain employment.

• Since January 2017, there have been 583,000+ new apprentices

• The average starting wage after apprenticeship completion is $70,000.

For other information contact Carmen Morris at 305-510-7921, or visit apprenticeship.gov. To hear a Homestead Senior High student speak about his experience, visit apprenticeflorida.com.