Your Investment at Work | UnidosUS

Apprenticeships: Propelling Latino workers into new careers  

Your support enables UnidosUS to build innovative partnerships with community-based organizations, like our Affiliates, employers and career seekers, to advance inclusive apprenticeship programs. As part of the National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Registered Apprenticeships, powered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), UnidosUS plays a pivotal role in connecting thousands of Latinos to career opportunities across the country. 

Specifically, UnidosUS offers coaching, technical assistance and resources for employers interested in creating equitable apprenticeships. This includes guidance on designing programs that are accessible to Latinos, integrating apprenticeships as a sustainable hiring model and connecting employers with Latino-serving nonprofits to access a diverse pool of candidates and ensure program inclusivity.  

One example of UnidosUS Affiliates is implementing apprenticeship programs in the clean energy sector. In California, MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County) collaborates with GRID Alternatives, a solar panel installation and training facility, to offer paid apprenticeships in solar panel system design, installation and maintenance.  “Partnerships like these have allowed us to bridge the skills gap in these emerging fields and place participants in roles that offer strong career prospects,” said Christopher Heim, MAAC’s workforce development program manager.  

By investing in Hispanic talent through apprenticeships, UnidosUS Affiliates can significantly advance opportunities for Latino workers and others to move up the economic ladder. Expanding apprenticeships could potentially fill 3.2 million jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. 

UnidosUS’s efforts to promote opportunity in this area are critical. Thanks in large part to donors like you, we’re able to help employers and organizations unlock the full potential of apprenticeships. With 92% of apprentices remaining employed after completing their programs, these initiatives are transforming lives while addressing workforce gaps.  

For more information visit us at unidosus.org.