We are seeing national trends that our young people want more and more workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities. According to the Maryland Department of Labor, our state has nearly 16,000 active apprentices in fiscal year 2025 compared to merely 11,500 in fiscal year 2019. This increase of trade workers will bolster our economy while also providing practical and vital services to our communities.
Decades ago, skilled trades were an essential pillar in our communities, but across our Nation, there is a growing shortage of skilled workers across the industries of healthcare, hospitality, construction, public safety, information technology. While the demand for apprentice opportunities is growing, there continues to be limited availability across our state and nation.
In Maryland, and in Howard County, we are ready to meet this challenge and increase opportunities for our incoming workforce. Governor Wes Moore, earlier this year, unveiled the Governor’s Apprentice Pledge which will position Maryland by recruiting 500 new employers, 5,000 apprenticeships, and at least five public agencies into registers apprenticeship programs by 2025.
To help bridge the apprenticeship gap, we must ensure our students are aware of the available options. Recently, Howard County hosted nearly 250 students to learn about the variety of apprenticeship opportunities, which was Maryland’s first official event to honor National Apprenticeship Week.
Further, Howard County’s Office of Workforce Development hosted a Business Apprenticeship Fair. This event brought together businesses, exhibitors, and partners to encourage the creation of new registered apprenticeship programs and recognize recipients of the Apprenticeship Opportunity Program local incentive. Nearly 150 attendees met with 70 businesses to learn more about their opportunities.
During these pivotal events, I had a chance to see first-hand how our apprenticeship program is changing lives. I visited four local businesses during National Apprenticeship Week: Cradlerock Children’s Center in Columbia, Health Tech Alley at the Maryland Innovation Center, Maple Lawn Hospitality and the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. Through hands-on training, young people get invaluable experience in the real world. Employers, on the other hand, receive an opportunity to mold and shape the next generation. Many employers say apprenticeships offer them a chance to give back because they, too, received help along the way.
When we launched the Youth Apprenticeship Program in 2019, we had 20 young people complete the program. In 2023, nearly 100 apprentices successfully completed the program.
We must do our part in celebrating our young people who choose the pathways to apprenticeship. Just as our scholar-athletes celebrate signing day, earlier this year, we celebrated 90 Howard County Public School System students who started their career journey in a mass Apprenticeship Maryland Career Signing Day at Howard Community College. This marked the start of an exciting journey that will shape our future while strengthening Howard County’s workforce.
We must, together, prioritize our young people through valuable workforce development initiatives. When young people and existing workers can advance their careers, this enables businesses to expand their workforce. And that is a win for all of Maryland.
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