November 15, 2021 - Lititz, PA
This week, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will travel Pennsylvania, visiting agriculture apprenticeship programs in Lancaster, State College, Williamsburg and Pittsburgh in honor of National Apprenticeship Week. Part of the Wolf Administration's $30 million investment in relevant Ag and other workforce training, seven state-certified agriculture apprenticeship programs and two pre-apprenticeships, offer the next generation of workers hands-on, paid experience in high-demand food and agriculture jobs."Pennsylvania's agriculture workers are essential to ensuring food and agricultural goods reach consumers across the commonwealth and the world," said Secretary Redding. "National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to highlight skilled careers in agriculture and Pennsylvania opportunities to learn while you earn and get ahead in a growing field. These programs are training the next generation of food and agriculture workers for in-demand, competitive jobs. Apprenticeships open up career pathways to fulfilling and meaningful work."Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry fuels more than 593,000 jobs across the commonwealth, paying nearly $33 billion in wages each year. Over the next decade, agriculture is expected to face a workforce deficit of 75,000 workers as farmers and laborers retire and new technology-based positions become available. Agricultural apprenticeship programs are preparing the next generation of agriculture and food workers by developing technical skills and the agility required to master emerging technologies through on the job, hands-on training.
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website