Join DAS Celebrating National Apprenticeship Day!
Today, California joins the nation in recognizing National Apprenticeship Day. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) proudly celebrates alongside Governor Newsom, who has issued a proclamation recognizing apprenticeship as integral to the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint and the Master Plan for Career Education—key pathways that drive prosperity, strengthen communities, and build a more inclusive economy throughout our state.
Earlier this spring, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Adele Burnes as Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), who has served as the DAS Deputy Chief since 2021. DAS Chief Adele Burnes brings a powerful vision to this role, one rooted in the belief that apprenticeships offer life-changing opportunities, bridging dreams to careers.
DAS Chief Adele Burnes shares. “On National Apprenticeship Day, we celebrate apprentices, employers, labor unions, and industry leaders who are driving the real impact across the state. Our momentum has never been greater. California is committed to continuing to expand apprenticeships, making California’s promise of opportunity a reality for all.”
Thanks to historic state workforce development investments in registered apprenticeships – including the Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) Grant, Apprenticeship Innovation Funding (AIF), and the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) Grant – thousands of Californians are finding a pathway to good wages and career mobility -with or without a degree.
Real Impact:
- Young Californians who were once disconnected or at risk of disconnection from systems such as education, employment, housing, and more are now building careers through high-quality apprenticeships.
- More women and underrepresented populations are entering and thriving in high-demand construction careers.
- Innovative partnerships are unlocking the full potential of registered apprenticeship programs in new sectors such as healthcare, transportation, education, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and more by supporting the expansion and scaling of these programs with funding.
Want to see the real impact for yourself? Hear from Californians whose lives have been transformed through apprenticeships:
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