On November 13-14, 2019 Governor Albert Bryan Jr. will be hosting the first annual Governor’s Workforce Development Summit in the Virgin Islands.

The Virgin Islands is in a phase of recovery and rebuilding. In 2017 the Virgin Islands experienced two Category 5 Hurricanes that changed not just the physical landscape, but also the workforce needs of the Territory. As the ongoing work of rebuilding our systems continue, we are mindful of workforce deficits and opportunities for improvement. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is committed to reshaping the Virgin Islands and has made Workforce Development a priority of his administration. He would like to see every training dollar in the Virgin Islands translate into sustainable employment and nationally recognized credentials for the job seeker and a skilled workforce for employers. As such, he has identified Work-Based learning as the path forward in building capacity and expanding economic development in the Territory.

The Office of the Governor has invited partners in the U.S. Office of Apprenticeship, subject matter experts and work-based learning practitioners to inform on the mechanics and operation of successful models. Panel speakers will highlight examples of work-based learning initiatives that are currently underway in the Virgin Islands and share opportunities for further development.

The Summit convenes the Territory’s leadership (employers, legislators, educators, union leaders, policy makers, human resource professionals and workforce development professionals) to begin the process of creating a Territory-wide workforce strategy. We strive to educate employers, build business engagement and partner with our educators to grow work-based, and more specifically, Registered Apprenticeship offerings. Through collaboration and action, we anticipate the emergence of a stronger and more resilient workforce in the Territory.

To Read the full Apprentice Proclamation click Here.