The inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW) is only 100 days from today!  This year’s celebration will take place May 5-11, 2024.  Building off the success of National Apprenticeship Week, YAW is a nationwide celebration highlighting the benefits and value of Registered Apprenticeship program opportunities for youth ages 16–24. Employers, educators, labor unions, workforce professionals, and their partners across the country are launching Registered Apprenticeship programs that allow youth to earn competitive wages while obtaining the relevant training and experience to start their careers, often including the opportunity to earn college credit.

YAW is an opportunity for these stakeholders and others to host events across the country to bring awareness of these life-changing Registered Apprenticeship career opportunities for youth and how they create a sustainable pipeline of skilled and diverse talent for the jobs of today and tomorrow for critical industries.

It is never too early to start planning. The YAW Event Planning Toolkit combined with the YAW Promotion Toolkit has all the resources you need to plan, organize, and host a successful event. During YAW 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor will highlight the following daily themes:

Monday: “Parents and Guardians are a Priority” in Registered Apprenticeship

Tuesday: Youth Apprenticeships: Building Awareness, Myth Busting, Partnering with Educational Providers, and Creating Pathways through Pre-Apprenticeship

Wednesday: Expanding Youth Apprenticeship Opportunities for Underserved Populations

Thursday: National Youth Apprenticeship Signing Day

Friday: Federal Partners Day and Call to Action