b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTA Grow Your Own Solution,Apprenticeship Programs Are Filling the Workforce Gap Y oure hired! A phrase many businesses arent saying often enough in todays booming economybut its not because there is a lack of jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates there are 7.6 million unfilled jobs, with only 6.5 million people actively looking for work. With todays talent shortage in multiple career fields, employers across the country are concerned. According to a survey by IWSI America, 40 percent of U.S. employers are unable to find workers with required technical skills; and 92 percent say the skills shortage is negatively impacting productivity, staff turnover, and employee satisfaction.The manufacturing industry is a prime example. Research conducted by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute estimates that in the next ten years, manufacturers will need to add 4.6 million jobs, with 2.4 million expected to go unfilled. Currently, the U.S. manufacturing industry has more than 500,000 vacant positions.With a grow your own approach, many executives are filling vacant positions through registered apprenticeship programs. The DOL confirms that U.S. employers have hired more than 583,000 apprentices since January 2017. Dating back to the Industrial Revolution, apprenticeships were primarily focused on manufacturing; however, today, more than 1,000 career fields utilize the apprenticeship model, especially within high-demand careers.ACE ELECTRICAdministered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), registered apprenticeships are a tried-and-true process that combines Future Workforce: Lowndes High School students Andrew Caruana, left, and Chason Tillman 36 SG MAGAZINE| FALL 2019 BUSINESS + CULTURE37'