Two initiatives have been launched to strengthen Mississippi’s workforce.
Governor Tate Reeves and AccelerateMS announced the Mississippi Apprenticeship Accelerator and Mississippi Reconnect programs aimed at closing skills gaps, providing career pathways, and driving economic growth across the state.
AccelerateMS will administer the programs in collaboration with the Mississippi Apprenticeship Program, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, and the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District.
“This is another win for Mississippi’s workforce development efforts,” Reeves said. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish when it comes to workforce development in our state — it’s led to thousands of Mississippians getting better jobs and helped us reach an all-time low unemployment rate. With the record-breaking private sector we’re witnessing, it’s important that we continue investing in Mississippians. That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Today, I was proud to announce two initiatives to help further bolster our workforce development efforts and strengthen economic opportunities for all Mississippians.
First, we are launching the Mississippi Apprenticeship Accelerator. This will be a partnership between… pic.twitter.com/CaE3Z4E1sy
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) October 23, 2024
While the state has boasted recent record-low unemployment rates, Mississippi’s labor force participation rate in April was 53.7% — 9% below the national average of 62.7% — and has consistently been trending downward since 2022.
The Mississippi Apprenticeship Accelerator (MAA) program is designed to empower businesses by helping them create and expand registered apprenticeship programs. With an initial $2 million investment, MAA will support approximately 600 new apprentices, offering them customized on-the-job training and classroom instruction in high-demand, high-wage occupations.
According to a press release, MAA is open to businesses of all sizes, with a focus on sectors critical to Mississippi’s economic future, such as advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and information technology.
Participating businesses will have the opportunity to create registered apprentice programs that meet their specific workforce needs, with the Mississippi Apprenticeship Program providing expert guidance from concept to implementation. Pre-apprenticeships will also be encouraged in collaboration with local education institutions to ensure a steady pipeline of talent.
“Through this initiative, we’re bridging the gap between the skills businesses need and
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