Senators are looking into improvements for the state’s apprenticeship program to fill the void when baby boomers reach retirement by 2030.
“There’s an absolute void in the people that are attempting to enter the trade here as boomers are retiring out here,” raised Senator Jeff Holy (R) during the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs online meeting Thursday.
Holy also remarked that there are issues replacing quality and specialized skill sets.
The committee met to discuss Senate Bill 5600 on the State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
State Apprenticeship Program Manager Jody Robbins reported meeting that Washington State sits in a competitive position among other states, ranking 9th in registered apprentices.
“We continue to be the path to the middle class for Washingtonians as we have for decades,” assured Robbins.
Boomers, born between 1946 to 1964, make up 22.4% of Washington’s population with 1,663,330 people, in a 2018 report by the Office of Financial Management.
Updated: Jan. 14, 2022
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