Carroll County proclaims April 30 National Apprenticeship Day; officials outline local apprenticeship pipeline

Carroll County commissioners proclaimed April 30, 2025, as National Apprenticeship Day and heard officials describe a growing suite of registered and youth apprenticeships that county leaders say are strengthening local career pathways.

County leaders and partner organizations outlined why apprenticeships matter for students and employers: apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction so participants can “earn while they learn” and enter higher-wage jobs without incurring the full cost of traditional postsecondary education.

Speakers at the commissioners’ April 24 meeting said Carroll Community College, Carroll County Public Schools and the county workforce board have expanded registered apprenticeships in trades and youth apprenticeships tied to local employers.

Dr. Rose Mintz of Carroll Community College described multi-year trade apprenticeship structures, saying an electrical apprenticeship spans four years and includes 630 classroom hours plus 8,000 on-the-job hours. Mintz told the board the college provided related instruction for 135 electrical apprentices in 2024–25, with 29 expected to graduate as journeymen this year; 55 HVAC apprentices are currently enrolled and 11 expect journeyman status soon. The college also reported approval for a plumbing apprenticeship program to launch this fall and a new degree-based hospitality apprenticeship supported by a recent grant.

Carroll County Public Schools staff said the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship program serves students ages 16 and up, gives juniors and seniors work experience while they finish high school and supports “grow-your-own” pipelines for occupations such as teaching. Olivia Strine, a Winters Mill High School senior and education apprentice at the Career and Technology Center, spoke about helping students develop independent and job skills in special education and health programs.

Workforce development partners said county employers are participating in registered and youth apprenticeship programs. Officials cited roughly 20 local businesses supporting youth apprenticeship programs and cited 206 registered apprentices associated with Carroll Community College training in the 2024–25 academic year. The college and partners said the median wage for an electrician in Maryland is about $31 per hour, highlighting the earning potential for graduates of these programs.

County economic development director Denise Beaver and Workforce Development Board representatives said the programs reduce barriers to employment, keep talent in Carroll County and supplement classroom instruction with industry mentors. School representatives explained that youth apprentices have a designated workplace mentor and that credit earned in youth apprenticeship can shorten subsequent registered-apprenticeship time frames.

The commissioners presented a certificate of appreciation to Carroll County Public Schools for its role in expanding apprenticeships and closed the segment by inviting partners and students for a group photo.

Officials said the county and partner agencies — including the Maryland Department of Labor — will continue coordinating outreach and employer engagement to expand slots and monitor program outcomes.