Registered apprenticeships
Program basics
- Aim to increase employment and earnings through industry-specific on-the-job training, technical instruction, and industry-recognized certification for high-demand jobs
- Combine on-the-job training with technical instruction
- Participants receive incremental wage increases as they build skills and earn a nationally recognized certification upon completion
- Employers cover the costs of training and wages paid to apprentices
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Strong (second-highest tier)
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Strong (second-highest tier)
Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by the Department of Labor's CLEAR database
Target population
Low- and moderate-income adults
Program cost
Variable
Implementation locations
Dates active
1937-Present
Outcomes and impact
- Increased employment rate by 8.6 percentage points
- Increased earnings by $6,595 in the 6th year, $5,839 more in the 9th year
- Estimated career earnings average of $240,037 more than for similar nonparticipants
- Over the career of an apprenticeship, the estimated social benefits exceed the social costs by more than $49,000
Keys to successful implementation
- Start by engaging with local employers and industry groups to identify high-need skills and sectors that registered apprenticeships could fill.
- Partner with existing workforce development programs, educational institutions (like high schools, community college, and vocational programs), and community-based organizations to recruit participants and build a diverse talent pipeline.
- Create a marketing plan to recruit new employers, leveraging existing partner-employers as program champions. Be sure to address pre-existing concerns head on (such as time and cost) through methods including return-on-investment tools (like the calculator in the resources section below) and case studies.
- Explore sectors with strong credentialing systems already in place, such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.
- Develop a mutual investment plan with employers – when partners invest, they are more likely to show a greater commitment to the success of the program.
- Build out support structures dedicated to participant retention, including mentorship programs and career counseling.