Growing Future Talent by Building and Expanding Apprenticeship Pathways and Programs

The Challenge

Registered Apprenticeship Programs can help employers fill high-growth and high-need jobs and prepare workers to fill those roles. But building, expanding, and sustaining these programs can be challenging.

• Aligning state apprenticeship systems with other systems covering workforce and education, such as community colleges and other intermediaries, is not always smooth.
  
• Employers often see apprenticeships as complex or burdensome.
  
• Too many apprentices drop out and do not complete their programs.
  

AIR's Approach

AIR works with states, employers, and organizations to strengthen apprenticeship systems-focusing on helping partners build, expand, and sustain programs over time. Through research and partnership, AIR:

Improves apprentice selection and retention. AIR works with established apprenticeship programs to improve how apprentices are selected, supported, and retained. For example, through a long-standing partnership with the Electrical Training ALLIANCE, AIR designs and maintains fair and effective apprentice selection processes, identifies factors that affect retention, and provides guidance to improve completion rates and program sustainability. As part of the Upward Apprenticeship Initiative, AIR will study the journey of apprentices in community college programs to understand when and why they drop out. With this information, community colleges can establish stronger procedures and direct support to help apprentices finish their programs successfully.

Helps states grow and align apprenticeship systems. AIR conducts assessments of state apprenticeship systems; supports partnerships among workforce agencies, education providers, and employers; and helps states align funding with workforce and economic development goals. For instance, AIR contributed to a statewide effort in New Jersey to build capacity, share best practices, and develop recommendations for expanding apprenticeship access.

Expands apprenticeships in emerging industries. AIR also works at the national level to grow apprenticeships, particularly in technology roles including tech support specialist, network support specialist, cybersecurity support, technician, and data analyst. For instance, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, AIR helped expand apprenticeship programs in technology, support employers in adopting apprenticeship models, and increase the number of apprentices hired in these fields.

Facilitates pathways into apprenticeship. Through hands on training, career and supportive services, and more, pre-apprenticeship programs help adults and youth prepare for a Registered Apprenticeship Program or other employment. With support from Britebound, AIR conducted a national survey and developed case studies that show how states and territories are expanding partnerships, using federal and state funding, and adopting policies and procedures that bolster these increasingly popular pre-apprenticeship programs.

The Impact

Better Alignment, More Effective Collaboration, New Opportunities for Workers and Businesses

As a result of AIR's work:

• State agencies are better positioned to align the different systems-such as community colleges, workforce agencies, and community organizations-that support apprenticeship goals;
  
• Funding streams are more intentionally coordinated to support programs;
  
• More employers have access to support and proven approaches for designing, launching, and sustaining apprenticeships;
  
• Apprenticeship programs are growing in both traditional and emerging industries; and
  
• More workers have access to earn-and-learn pathways into in-demand careers.

By improving coordination, expanding programs, and supporting long-term sustainability, AIR aims to make apprenticeships a more widely accessible pathway for workers and a more reliable talent strategy for employers.

Related Work

Apprenticeship and Work-based Learning

AIR helps employers, education and workforce development partners, and policymakers advance their work-based learning practices and programs to achieve these goals. We do so by blending research and technical assistance expertise across three core focus areas: research and insights, system design and readiness, and implementation and improvement.