​On July 21, 2022, Tara Loew, Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s (L&I) Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO), joined Oberg Industries to celebrate 45 recent graduates of the manufacturing company’s apprenticeship program, which provides in-demand skills training for Pennsylvanians interested in precision manufacturing careers.

Established in 2016, the ATO supports and expands registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs statewide. As one part of Governor Tom Wolf’s PAsmart framework, the office provides outreach, education, and technical support to current and prospective program sponsors and apprentices. The ATO aims to expand the apprenticeship model to non-traditional occupations and ensure opportunities are available to under-represented and underserved communities across Pennsylvania. The ATO currently supports more than 17,000 active apprentices, nearly 5,000 new apprentices, and more than 1,580 active occupation-specific apprenticeship programs around the commonwealth. 

The Wolf Administration has invested more than $28 million in Pennsylvania apprenticeship programs since 2018, focused on increasing academic training in computer sciences, science, technology, engineering, and math education to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce.

L&I estimates that, on average, apprentices earn a starting wage of $70,000 per year after graduation and are on track to earn $300,000 more over their careers compared to workers who don’t graduate from an apprenticeship program. For every dollar spent on apprenticeships, employers get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity.

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