Penn United training coordinator Scott Covert shows a product to Eileen Cipriani, from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry during her visit Friday.

JEFFERSON TWP — The state Department of Labor and Industry's deputy secretary for workforce development made a stop in Butler County on Friday on her statewide Jobs that Pay tour.

Eileen Cipriani traveled from the eastern part of the state to visit Penn United Technologies to celebrate the company's three new apprenticeship programs.

Scott Covert, the training coordinator at Penn United, explained that the three new programs raise to an even dozen the apprenticeship programs available to employees at the company.

The CNC mill and lath operator, die designer and quality control inspector apprenticeship programs were recently approved by the state Department of Labor and Industry, Covert said.

He said almost 500 employees have completed apprenticeship programs at the company since the first apprenticeship program, tool and die maker, was offered in 1973.

“We now have 280 active employees who have completed our (apprenticeship) programs,” Covert said.

Penn United officials applied for the new apprenticeship programs, Covert said, to ensure customer that trained individuals are working on their products, to satisfy internal workforce needs and to stay current technologically.

“We have to keep up with machine technology,” Covert said. “It's constantly changing, so we need to keep our program as fluid as possible.”

Cipriani said one of Gov. Tom Wolf's major priorities is providing employers with skilled workers through apprenticeships and training.

She said the average salary of a middle-skilled worker, which is the level most apprenticeships focus on, is $60,000.

A full story will appear in the Butler Eagle.