ARLINGTON, Va. – The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) issued a proclamation in support of the Department of Labor’s (DoL) National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 8-14, 2020, for developing the nation’s skilled wireless workforce.
“WIA recognizes the urgent need to prepare the highly skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of winning the race to 5G. The United States currently faces a skills gap in the number of qualified workers to supply the needs across the telecommunications industry,” said WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein. “Apprenticeship initiatives are uniquely capable of providing the educational and work-based learning for developing in-demand skills in conjunction with employment. WIA celebrates the growing number of telecommunications-related businesses – now over 30 – that recognize the value of apprenticeships and supports increasing industry awareness and employer apprenticeship expansion.”
One of WIA’s priorities for the past several years has been to develop the wireless workforce with WIA being recognized recently by DoL as an Industry Intermediary. Since 2017, WIA has been training and educating the wireless workforce through the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), a Department of Labor-credentialed registered apprenticeship training program, and the Telecommunications Education Center (TEC), an education program designed to improve quality and safety of work in the industry.
WIA also published a National Apprenticeship Week blog.
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About WIA
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) represents the businesses that build, own, and operate the nation’s wireless infrastructure. On the federal, state, and local levels, WIA advocates for the widespread, responsible deployment of wireless infrastructure to enable mobile broadband access for communities everywhere.
Contact: Amy-Gabrielle Bartolac | Public Affairs Manager
703-621-0527 | Amy-Gabrielle.Bartolac@wia.org