WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing
commitment to workforce development, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today
announced it has set a goal of hiring 5,000 new apprentices by
2022. The newly established goal, which coincides with the U.S.
Department of Labor's National Apprenticeship Week, reflects an
expansion of the company's Registered Apprenticeship program to
seven additional states, including Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, bringing the total number of
statewide apprenticeship programs supported by CVS Health to
18.
Registered Apprenticeships provide participants with structured
training to maintain the high level of skills needed in complex
fields such as pharmacy care and prescription benefit management,
and equips participants with a nationally recognized credential
that will help them advance in their careers.
"Apprenticeships help job creators fill open positions with
skilled job seekers," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "CVS Health's goal to hire
thousands more apprentices reflects the strength of the
apprenticeship model. The Administration is pleased to see the
creation of more opportunities for Americans to learn the skills
they need to find family-sustaining jobs."
CVS Health became the first employer to launch a U.S. Department
of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program for pharmacy technicians
in 2005. Through 2017, the company has had more than 4,700
colleagues join its Registered Apprenticeship career tracks for
retail pharmacy, prescription benefit management and retail store
management.
CVS Health is among a growing number of U.S. companies investing
in earn-and-learn apprenticeship programs, due in part to the
nation's skills gap. Today, there are more than 6 million vacant
jobs that American workers are unable to fill—the highest level on
record, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS
also reported in 2015 that the country is projected to produce one
million fewer technical workers than is needed over the next
decade.
"The widening skills gap in the U.S. is a significant business
concern, and companies – large and small – are seeing this
workplace strategy that combines on-the-job training with classroom
instruction as a viable solution to build a pipeline of future
skilled talent," said Lisa Bisaccia,
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer for CVS Health.
As part of its apprenticeship strategy, CVS Health works with
community organizations across the country to source a consistent
pipeline of apprentices including federal, state and local
government organizations, public workforce agencies, community
colleges, community-based nonprofits and faith-based organizations
to provide candidate referrals from untapped pools of talent.
"Meaningful work and a defined career track can provide a source
of dignity, pride and identity, which participants are able to gain
through our Registered Apprenticeship programs," added
Bisaccia.
The U.S. Department of Labor has designated November 13 - 19, 2017 as the third annual
National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide opportunity for
companies, trade and industry groups, nonprofit organizations,
unions, labor-management organizations, and educational
institutions to highlight how apprenticeships prepare American
workers for the jobs of today and the future.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on
their path to better health. Through its 9,700 retail locations,
more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy
benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated
senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million
patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a
leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the
company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health
in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model
increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes
and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about
how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at
https://www.cvshealth.com/.
Media Contact
Mary Gattuso
Mary.Gattuso@CVSHealth.com
401-770-9811
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SOURCE CVS Health