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Helping Health Care Employers Fill Critical Workforce Gaps

Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants, Wisconsin Apprenticeship can help fill high-demand roles

The health care sector is responsible for 15.3% of jobs in Wisconsin, and these jobs are projected to grow by 8.15% by 2032, adding 33,520 jobs in that time.

Helping the workforce meet this opportunity is a key priority. Aligning with recommendations by the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce, Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) aim to help health care employers recruit, train, and retain the teams needed to provide high-quality care.

Many Wisconsin health care employers have relied on Registered Apprenticeship (RA) to improve recruitment and retention. Wisconsin's RA program combines structured, on-the-job training with classroom instruction and allows apprentices to earn money while they learn, rewarding employers with a skilled workforce. Health care RA programs have grown rapidly since they were introduced in 2018 and now include: registered nursing, respiratory therapist, surgical technologist, ophthalmic assistant, caregiver, interventional cardiovascular technologist, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, sterilization technician, and dental assistant.

Youth Apprenticeship, a program designed for high school students to gain skills and career education while still in school, is also seeing record participation in its health science occupational pathways, with jobs that include work in ambulatory healthcare, nursing and residential care, and hospitals.

Training workers can come with a costly price tag. One funding mechanism to help employers get RA's and other workforce training programs off the ground is the Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) grant program. Since 2013, WFF training grants have helped employers, including health care organizations, train and retain workers and address skills gaps while reducing financial and operational barriers.

Health Care Apprenticeship – A Model That Works

Health care organizations across the state have found that strategic investments in apprenticeship have worked to strengthen and grow their workforce.

UW Health, based in Madison, has sponsored over 700 Registered Apprentices since 2018, targeting in-demand occupations such as pharmacy technicians, medical assistants, and community health workers.

"We've increased retention, decreased turnover and vacancy rates and increased employee engagement in all of the areas where we have an apprenticeship program," said Bridgett Willey, UW Health director of allied health education and career pathways. "Our investments have also strengthened our partnerships."

In collaboration with Madison College, UW Health established some of the first of its kind, degree-granting health care apprenticeship programs in the U.S. for registered nurses, respiratory therapists and surgical technologists. These programs are blazing a trail for what workforce development can look like.

In 2023, SSM Health formed a taskforce dedicated to addressing workforce issues and development, leading to a Youth Apprenticeship program for high school students at its Wisconsin locations. The program was so successful that the organization replicated the program in two other states where it operates. Soon after, SSM was able to start RA programs in the state, thanks in large part to a grant received in partnership with UW Health and the South Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.

According to SSM Health, RA programs in the medical assistant and surgical technologist fields have helped build a skilled talent pipeline in high-demand roles.

"These apprenticeship programs support nontraditional pathways and have become a strategic workforce development tool," said Jennifer Krantz, a career coach at SSM. "They help address staffing needs, improve retention, promote equity and build strong community partnerships."

Western Wisconsin Health Chief Human Resources Officer Erin Benson calls health care apprenticeships, "a win-win for both employees and employers."

"Like many health care organizations, we were facing workforce shortages. At the same time, we had dedicated employees who were eager to grow their careers, but faced barriers with traditional education models, such as time and cost," said Benson. "Apprenticeships provided a practical solution by allowing employees to earn while they learn in both the classroom and on the job, while gaining valuable skills."

She said Western Wisconsin Health, located in Baldwin in northwest Wisconsin, has now been able to fill hard-to-recruit positions such as medical assistants and surgical technicians. The programs have also increased employee engagement and retention by offering clear career pathways. "We've built a more skilled, committed workforce and improved our ability to provide high-quality care to the communities we serve."

Children's Wisconsin, a pediatric health care organization that serves children and teens in the state, currently offers apprenticeships for pharmacy technicians, data analysts, and facilities maintenance technicians.

"Apprenticeships allow us to shape the development and training of future talent for critical positions in our health care system," said Julie Okoro, workforce development manager at Children's Wisconsin. "We value the academic instruction provided by our education partners, which complements and enhances hands-on training. When apprentices complete their program, they're fully prepared to excel in their role and already understand our organizational culture."

Get Started

Employers can visit the DWD website to find out how to start or expand Wisconsin Apprenticeship programs at their organization and learn more about WFF grant opportunities.

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ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.