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Apprenticeships, need for more construction workers highlighted at summit in Duluth

The summit involved tours of manufacturing facilities, a speech from Gov. Tim Walz and more.

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Tim White talks to participants in Friday’s Northeast Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit touring the Jerry Alander Training Center for carpenters. White, an instructor at the center, has been a carpenter for 51 years. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)

A Friday summit highlighting the need for trade apprenticeships was held in Duluth — a city facing approximately $1 billion in upcoming construction projects.

At the inaugural Northeast Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit held in downtown Duluth, local politicians, educators, labor leaders, members of Native American communities, and businesses gathered to learn about and discuss apprenticeship opportunities in an industry with an upcoming labor need.

In northeast Minnesota, an estimated 7,400 people are needed to fill future construction jobs by 2026. That number highlights the need for more apprenticeship programs in trades industries such as construction, manufacturing, health care and others, according to the city of Duluth. Apprentices learn from and work for employers during their respective programs.

"The future is really bright up here. We're seeing some of the largest job growth happening up here, and the potential over the horizon with some of these big projects ... should be a good indicator. Now we need to make sure those jobs are able to be filled," Gov. Tim Walz said in an interview with media after a speech at the summit.

Increasing the number of people who enter in nontraditional educational programs could also help curb a labor shortage statewide, according to the city. Currently, the statewide unemployment rate sits at 3.2%, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

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When addressing the summit's crowd of 150 people, Walz said traditional higher education programs don't align best with everyone's skills. Instead, a trade career may best match one's aptitude.

The Democratic governor said apprenticeship programs can also ensure people from communities of color are connected to trade careers.

"We've got to do a better job of making sure they don't fall through the cracks," he said.

And as the state's workforce ages, he said apprenticeship programs "are the way in" to the job market for younger people.

"It connects the need to that supply that we need to start creating. So to see ... educators in (the summit), to see labor leaders in there, to see business leaders (and) elected officials — it's really smart," he said.

The summit also included bus tours of facilities that train apprentices, a panel of current apprentices, a apprenticeship 101 presentation and more.

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Aaron Wright, a representative with the Regional Council of Carpenters, talks to participants in Friday’s Northeast Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit touring the Jerry Alander Training Center for carpenters. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)

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