The United States celebrated the second annual National Apprenticeship Week from Nov. 14–20, 2016. The week consisted of hundreds of events across the country, all of which focused on the role apprentices play in the modern workforce, and how they help businesses grow.

President Barack Obama kicked off the week with a presidential proclamation that stressed the importance of apprenticeships to our national economy.

“Registered apprenticeships connect job-seekers to better paying jobs that are in high demand, and by providing hands-on experiences and allowing Americans to earn while they learn, they help workers gain the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in our modern economy,” President Obama said in the proclamation. “In addition to benefitting employees, apprenticeship programs also help employers by increasing productivity and innovation with a high return on investment.”

According to the Department of Labor website, there were 684 events planned for National Apprenticeship Week across the United States. The first annual National Apprenticeship Week, which started on Nov. 2, 2015, saw 313 events held in 47 states.

"Apprenticeships are experiencing a modern renaissance in America because the earn-while-learn model is a win-win proposition for workers looking to punch their ticket to the middle-class and for employers looking to grow and thrive in our modern global economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.

Participants were encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #ApprenticeshipWorks. The Department of Labor expected the celebration to grow in its second year, and to see an emphasis on diversity in the workforce.

“With 125,000 more active apprenticeships today than in 2014, we have seen the largest 3-year increase in nearly a decade,” President Obama said in his proclamation. “This year, we also invested over $20 million to start new apprenticeship programs and help historically underrepresented individuals—including women, minorities, and people with disabilities—access apprenticeship programs.”