U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta Announces Membership of Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion

WASHINGTON, DC – Following President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today announced members of the President's Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. The Task Force—representing companies, trade and industry groups, educational institutions, and labor unions—brings to the table substantial workforce development experience in addressing the nation’s skills gap.

“Expanding apprenticeships will help Americans learn the skills they need to fill jobs that are open right now and in the future. I am pleased to see business leaders, unions, educational institutions, and industry groups come together to help the American worker,” said Secretary Acosta. “The members of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion will provide varied perspectives that will help guide the Administration’s strategy on growing apprenticeship programs nationwide. I am grateful for their participation in this important effort.”

To help more Americans obtain relevant skills and family-sustaining jobs, President Trump issued an Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America. Apprenticeships provide paid, relevant workplace experiences and opportunities to develop skills that job creators demand. Hundreds of companies—big and small, across industries—have shown an interest in apprenticeships since President Trump signed his Executive Order.

The President’s Executive Order called for the Secretary of Labor to establish a Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. The mission of the Task Force is to identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs are insufficient.

Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion Members:

Chair – Secretary Alexander Acosta, U.S. Department of Labor

Vice-Chair – Secretary Betsy DeVos, U.S. Department of Education

Vice-Chair – Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Department of Commerce

Michael Bellaman, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors

Joshua Bolten, President and CEO, Business Roundtable

Walter Bumphus, President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges

Wesley Bush, Chairman, CEO and President, Northrop Grumman

The Honorable Dennis Daugaard, Governor, South Dakota

Emily Stover DeRocco, Founder & CEO, E3 Engage Educate Employ

Cari Dominguez, Director, Manpower Inc.

Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Montez King, Executive Director, National Institute for Metalworking Skills

Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO, Dow Chemical Company

Katherine Lugar, President and CEO, American Hotel and Lodging Association

Douglas J. McCarron, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions

Marc H. Morial, CEO, National Urban League

John Ratzenberger, workforce training advocate

The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Governor, Iowa

Mark B. Rosenberg, Board of Directors, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

Joseph Sellers Jr., General President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers

Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association

Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers