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IdahoPTV Highlights Businesses Creating Youth Apprenticeships

by
Greg Likins
• Published on
Youth Apprenticeship Week is May 5th through 11th
Press Releases

Idaho Public Television Partners With Idaho Business for Education to Highlight Youth Apprenticeship Week

This Youth Apprenticeship Week (May 5–11), Idaho Public Television's acclaimed web series Construction Jobs Explained is proud to partner with Idaho Business for Education to spotlight the pivotal role of Idaho’s burgeoning young workforce.  

Join us online as we delve into the lives of the talented teens and young adults poised to shape our state's future, alongside the forward-thinking companies guiding their journey. Find their stories during Youth Apprenticeship Week and throughout the year on Instagram and YouTube @constructjobs_explained and @idahobusinessed.  

“Apprenticeship programs offer immense benefits, providing skill acquisition and career opportunity,” says Matthew Baltzell, host of Construction Jobs Explained. “For young Idahoans, these programs are a gateway to mastering critical hands-on skills, earning while learning to sidestep college debt, and securing valuable certifications that pave the way to rewarding careers. Businesses, in turn, enjoy the cultivation of adept employees tailored to their needs, reduced hiring costs, enhanced productivity, and the infusion of fresh, innovative perspectives into their industries.” 

Idaho Business for Education (IBE) plays a crucial role by helping companies craft robust apprenticeship programs and linking them with enthusiastic students eager for real-world opportunities. As Baltzell often highlights in his videos, "It’s important work that benefits all of Idaho!" 

Idaho Public Television has teamed up with IBE to build awareness for IBE’s Youth Apprenticeship Program, which aims to create a highly educated and skilled workforce that is able to strengthen the business climate and fuel a prosperous Idaho economy. 

IBE is a group of nearly 250 business leaders from across the state who are committed to transforming Idaho’s education system.  

According to IBE, building workforce-ready labor requires a collaborative effort among government, business, and education. The Youth Apprenticeship Program connects people aged 16–24 to training, mentors, and careers in Idaho.  

Through a joint effort with the Idaho Workforce Development Council, Idaho Department of Labor, and Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education, IBE is scaling up Idaho’s Youth Apprenticeship Program, with a goal of placing 400 apprentices by 2024 in some of the 1,200 federal apprenticeships.

Idaho Public Television's online series Construction Jobs Explained host Matthew Baltzell spends the day with some young apprentices working with the Knife River Corporation to construct a concrete highway barrier.

Jobs Explained is part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's American Graduate initiative that was launched in 2011. The goal of Jobs Explained is to illuminate career pathways for students exploring all types of post-secondary education and employment.