On the heels of last night’s State of the Union, the White House issued a statement highlighting President Trump’s plan to provide jobs, education, and training for “cutting-edge” areas like 5G.

“I applaud the President for prioritizing training and education for in-demand 5G jobs. Ensuring a 5G-ready workforce will enable the United States to win the race to 5G and reap the benefits that advanced wireless services will bring,” said WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein. “This focus on equipping the workforce with the skills of the future will continue to position the United States as a global leader in 5G.”

To address the 5G workforce skills gap, WIA brought apprenticeships into the wireless industry for the first time with the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP). TIRAP is the only program focused on 5G apprenticeships and is a Department of Labor-credentialed program. WIA is the national sponsor of TIRAP.

In the statement, President Trump calls on Congress to support “vocational training at every single high school in America. The President is encouraging private-sector investments with his Pledge to America’s Workers, prompting more than 400 companies to pledge jobs and educational opportunities for nearly 15 million American workers. This includes training in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and secure 5G so workers are able to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.”

###

Contact:
Amy-Gabrielle Bartolac | Public Affairs Manager
Amy-Gabrielle.Bartolac@wia.org | 703-621-0527