DWD celebrates success of youth apprenticeship program during inaugural youth apprenticeship week
With a passion for creating things and working with her hands, Zoe Zielinski knows what she wants her future career to hold.
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a welder,” Zoe said. “A family friend of my parents was a welder, and I always wanted to follow in their footsteps.”
Zoe is a senior from Elkhorn Area High School and a welding apprentice at SPX FLOW, a global industrial manufacturer with a plant in Delavan, Wisconsin. Over the past year, Zoe has trained alongside skilled welders, kickstarting her career in the manufacturing field. SPX FLOW recognized Zoe’s dedication to the profession, too, offering her a full-time position after her graduation in June.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer Zoe a full-time role after her graduation,” SPX Flow Focus Factory Manager Jennifer Rigert said. “Zoe is a quick learner, and our polishers know when it’s a ‘Zoe weld’ because she does such an amazing job.”
Zoe is one of almost 10,000 students in Youth Apprenticeship programs across Wisconsin. This total, 9,932 apprentices, is a new record for the Youth Apprenticeship program and 19% higher than the previous record set in the 2022-23 school year. The 2023-24 school year also had a record number of employers, at 6,671 participating.
“Wisconsin’s long-standing leadership in Youth Apprenticeship continues with another record-breaking year,” said Amy Pechacek, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. “Much of the program’s success is due to strong local partnerships working together to prepare the next generation of Wisconsin’s workforce. These students and their intelligence, passion, and commitment to excellence have convinced me beyond a doubt that our future is in capable hands.”
DWD celebrated the first annual National Youth Apprenticeship week with visits to Youth Apprenticeship sponsors in Milwaukee, Elkhorn, Delevan, and La Crosse. Workforce development leaders and local partners learned about the employer and apprentice experience at Milwaukee Public Schools, Educators Credit Union, Precision Plus, SPX Flow, and Gundersen Health System.
Wisconsin was first in the nation to offer a Youth Apprenticeship program in 1991. Today, Wisconsin continues its leadership in the program with more than 80 occupational pathways across 13 career clusters. Earlier this year, Governor Evers highlighted the success of Youth Apprenticeship’s new occupational pathways in business administration and education; School Age Education was among the pathways highlighted during Youth Apprenticeship Week.
Aside from the 2020-21 school year that saw a decline due to COVID-19, the program has seen year-over-year growth since its inception. More than 75% of Wisconsin’s 421 public school districts had students enrolled in Youth Apprenticeship for the 2023-24 school year.
The state’s leadership in Registered Apprenticeship laid the foundation for its success in Youth Apprenticeship. Last November, Governor Evers and DWD announced record-breaking participation in Registered Apprenticeship, with more than 16,000 apprentices participating.
With experience in the field and support from SPX FLOW, Zoe is ready to launch her professional career in manufacturing. She plans to continue her time with SPX FLOW as a full-time welder in June.
“My Youth Apprenticeship experience at SPX FLOW accelerated my skills to where I am today,” Zoe said. “I am proud of my achievements and excited to see what my future holds.”
Students, parents, and employers can learn more about Youth Apprenticeship on the DWD website.
