Tennessee Workforce: Ready for the Future
State invests in programs designed to keep highly skilled talent flowing to growing industries.
As technological advancements continue to reshape the state’s major industries, building a skilled and adaptable Tennessee workforce remains at the forefront of economic development strategies.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has taken significant strides in addressing workforce needs through programs such as the Tennessee Promise, which provides two years of community or technical college free of tuition and fees to graduating high school seniors, and a prisoner reentry program that trains individuals in county prisons for jobs when they are released.
Workforce Training in Tennessee
“The whole purpose of the Department of Labor is to help the citizens of Tennessee reskill and upskill themselves so they can bring more to the workplace and also increase the earning power of themselves and their household, and that is good for the state’s economy,” says Dewayne Scott, deputy director for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Another tool in the department’s toolbox is the Apprenticeship TN program, a comprehensive initiative designed to bolster workforce development efforts and bridge the skills gap. By combining on-the-job training with academic education, the program is paving the way for a stronger, more competitive workforce.
“The state has a 3.2% unemployment rate (June 2023). We also have a gig economy that pulls a lot of people out of the traditional workforce,” Scott says. “There aren’t enough workers for the jobs in demand out there. Also, the market is changing; the industries are changing, and employees’ skills have to change with that. Apprenticeships are a way for businesses to create a future pipeline and train those individuals with the skills they need.”
Training Up Tennessee
Nearly 7,300 Tennesseans have taken part in apprenticeship programs, including more than 3,100 in 2023.
BASF Corp., a global chemical company with a manufacturing presence in Chattanooga and Sparta, partnered with Chattanooga State Community College to launch a 12-month apprenticeship program. Apprentices are paid a full wage as well as benefits while earning a certificate in chemical engineering technology from Chattanooga State. The program even pays the cost of tuition, books and fees.
“We truly value our partnership with Chattanooga State Community College and know the apprenticeship participants will receive the skill sets needed for our process technician roles,” says Brittany Davis, operations manager at BASF in Chattanooga. “The opportunity to gain hands-on experience while learning in the classroom is invaluable to creating diverse skill sets, backgrounds and ways of thinking.”
The Positives of Apprenticeships
Scott says not only do apprenticeships provide hands-on, practical training and allow students to work alongside experienced professionals, they also allow them to earn while they learn and support themselves and their families financially during their training period.
Apprenticeships allow businesses to design and implement training programs that align with their unique needs, ensuring apprentices acquire the precise skills and knowledge necessary to be successful and contribute to the organization on day one.
“With apprenticeships, the workforce is coming to the workplace to provide their services and be compensated for that, and then as their individual household economies increase and improve, they can contribute more to the local economy,” Scott says. “That’s where everybody wins. The employers are winning because they’ve got a satisfied and stable employee working for them. The employee wins from the standpoint of being more financially stable.”
Over time, the Apprenticeship TN program has evolved and expanded, offering apprenticeship opportunities in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, health care, information technology, construction and, most recently, education.
How to Become a Teacher for Free
The U.S. has a teacher shortage that got even worse during COVID. To help remedy the situation in Tennessee, Austin Peay State University has introduced a Teacher Occupation Apprenticeship program.
APSU began the apprenticeship drive in 2022 with approval from the U.S. Department of Labor along with sponsorship from the Tennessee Department of Education. Tennessee became the first state to sponsor such an initiative.
“As the first state to establish a permanent teaching apprenticeship program, Tennessee has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in education and workforce development,” says Gov. Bill Lee. “These apprenticeships will create a pipeline of experienced teachers with valuable on-the-job training and help ensure quality education for generations of Tennessee students.”
The program involves a three-year experience available to new or upcoming high school graduates as well as community members who don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Interested students are paid a salary and attend college at no cost (free tuition and books). During that time, they also become teacher apprentice residents paired with experienced teachers in their local school district.
During the three apprenticeship years, students get valuable on-the-job training, all while earning a wage that increases as they progress.
In 2022, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System became the first school district to join the APSU program. Other systems that have joined include Cheatham County School District, Dickson County Schools, Hickman County Schools and Robertson County Schools. The application process for high school students interested in becoming a teacher resident begins with applying through one of the participating school districts.
– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
Get to Know Tennessee
Want to learn more about living and working in Tennessee? Check out the latest edition of Livability Tennessee Economic Development Guide.
