On Tuesday, the Nevada Legislature building will be teeming with the men and women who build Nevada—from the old-timers who built iconic places like the Venetian in Las Vegas to Greater Nevada Field in Reno to first-year apprentices ready to take the torch and build Nevada’s future.
The event—the first at the Nevada Legislature—comes as Governor Steve Sisolak puts a renewed focus on workforce training and development.
Representatives from registered apprenticeship programs around the state will be on hand to talk about apprenticeships, answer questions, and provide hands-on activities that give participants a chance to step into the shoes of an ironworker, a sheet metal worker, and other trades.
“We’ve been shining a brighter light on our construction apprenticeships for a couple of years now, and we’re excited to get some momentum at the legislative level,” said Dian Vanderwell, recruiter for the Northern Nevada Apprenticeship Coordinators Association (
New in 2019 is a push to attract more women into Nevada’s building and construction trades apprenticeship programs. Nevada falls behind the national average (9%) in the number of women taking on jobs in construction.
“Union apprenticeships pay equal wages and benefits regardless of gender,” said Robert Benner, business representative for the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada. “And wages start on day one of training, and start at or above average for the area. That’s a big deal, because there are some non-union apprenticeship options out there in construction and other industries that pay very little, or nothing at all while you’re training.”
Benner said that Nevada’s union apprenticeships are 100% privately funded and use no tax dollars, but instead help inject dollars into the state economy by reducing student loan debt among Nevada’s young people.
Details
What: Apprenticeship Day at the 2019 Legislature
When: Tuesday, April 23, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Room 3100, Nevada Legislature Building, 401 S Carson, Carson City, Nev.
The event is free and open to the public.
SOURCE: Northern Nevada Apprenticeship Coordinators Association
