Building Skilled Workers Through Apprenticeships with Nick Nunnery

In this episode, I talk with Nick Nunnery about his work in economic development, focusing on apprenticeships and tourism in West Virginia. Nick explains how apprenticeships provide hands-on learning and mentorship, which helps businesses in industries like manufacturing, service, and hospitality train skilled workers. We discuss how apprenticeships have been around for centuries and are now becoming more systemized, with Europe leading the way in trades like engineering. Nick points out that apprenticeships are a great alternative to traditional schooling, especially as college debt becomes more burdensome. We also explore how apprenticeships are expanding into tourism, where young people can quickly rise into management roles. Nick shares how businesses can learn more and set up apprenticeships through the West Virginia Economic Development Office.