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Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 19, 2026
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

ICYMI: Gov. Evers Announces Record High 2025 Registered Apprentice Participation

New apprenticeship programs continue to build employer and apprentice adoption

MADISON — In his Feb. 17 State of the State address, Gov. Tony Evers highlighted key successes in building the 21st-century workforce Wisconsin needs, including announcing record participation in Wisconsin’s Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Program in 2025, with 18,524 apprentices across a record of more than 3,095 employers.

This marks the fourth consecutive year the RA program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, has broken participation records. More employers from a growing list of industry sectors are turning to apprenticeship as a successful way to recruit, train, and retain workers. Wisconsin launched five new apprenticeship programs in 2025 to train individuals for in-demand careers such as bus/motor coach mechanics and operators, dental assistants, paramedics, and surgical technologists.

"We're proud to see the continued growth of Wisconsin Apprenticeship, a proven solution that supports local talent to address the state's worker quantity challenge," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “More and more, Wisconsin employers recognize that apprenticeship programs, which provide dual classroom and applied instruction, meet their growing employment needs and are a key part of the economy of the future.”

More new RA programs are being introduced in 2026, including:

• A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist program, recently started at UW-Health. It is the ninth apprenticeship program offered to UW-Health employees, and one of 13 health care related RA programs across the state.
• A two-year Educational Assistant program, slated to begin later this year, will lay the foundation for people who are seeking a teaching career. It will align with the Wisconsin Technical College System’s Foundations of Teacher Education associate degree program where participants earn a degree with 60 transferable credits. When complete, participants can work as a paraprofessional or continue into a Teacher RA pathway. A national leader in apprenticeship since 1911, Wisconsin's apprenticeship programs – Registered Apprenticeship, Youth Apprenticeship, and Certified Pre-Apprenticeship – address our state’s workforce challenges and provide economic momentum to build a 21st-century workforce. Apprenticeships are an attractive option for both workers seeking a pathway into in-demand careers that pay a good wage and for employers seeking to engage highly skilled talent.

Wisconsin's earn-as-you-learn RA model was the first in the nation that pays for participants' time spent learning both on the job and in the classroom, and it continues to grow its participation numbers and the breadth of program offerings.

"Important partnerships across the state are essential to the ongoing success of Wisconsin apprenticeship," said David Polk, director of DWD’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. "Through the engagement of our Wisconsin Apprenticeship Advisory Council and employer, education, and training partners, our apprenticeship programs continue to fuel economic momentum with a model that meets industry demands while creating opportunities for new participants and new industries.”

While traditional construction trades apprenticeships continue to be strong, emerging employment sectors and occupations are expanding the depth of offerings and apprenticeship opportunities. Wisconsin has more than 200 apprenticeship occupations, making apprenticeship more accessible than ever.

In addition, demand for Youth Apprenticeship has also skyrocketed, reaching a record-high enrollment 11,344 high school juniors and seniors during the 2024-2025 school year, a 14 percent increase from the prior year. More than 99 percent of Wisconsin public school districts with a high school offer Youth Apprenticeship. The program partnered with a record 7,447 employers last school year.

For more information, visit Wisconsin Apprenticeship.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131

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