Preparing students effectively for rewarding careers is the mission of community colleges, but is also the goal for policymakers, businesses, and other community stakeholders. AACC has found that apprenticeship programs address the skills gap because they immediately place workers in unfilled jobs, and the companies offering the apprenticeships can adjust their training to fit current organizational needs. For administrators, it is essential to build strong relationships with state and federal apprenticeship office to support these efforts.
AACC has supported states that are recognizing and leveraging apprenticeships to build a skilled workforce that meets industry demands. These programs require collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, including state labor departments, departments of education, community and technical colleges, high schools, and industry leaders. Policy approaches vary depending on the state’s goals and existing infrastructure, but providing legislators with strong data and successful examples can demonstrate effective ways to incentivize participation from both employers and apprentices.
Between 2016 and 2018, 30 states passed 60 new apprenticeship laws, and this momentum has continued. Between 2023 and 2024, more than half of the U.S. states enacted apprenticeship-related legislation focusing on employer incentives, streamlined governance, and alignment with K-12 and higher education systems. These efforts highlight the growing recognition of apprenticeships as a critical workforce development strategy.
Federal Support for Apprenticeships
On the federal level, apprenticeships receive bipartisan support. The Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations made significant investments in apprenticeship expansion, incentivizing states to expand registered apprenticeships across the nation. Funding for these programs is primarily distributed through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and U.S. Department of Labor grants.
AACC has assisted in the support and the collaboration of colleges working with their state and local WIOA system, to support workforce development in several ways, including education, training services, and job search activities. Community colleges are leaders in workforce education; it is imperative for them to be at the table and to be involved, and to serve on the local workforce board.
Other Resources
- The State of Apprenticeships among Workforce Boards (Jobs for the Future)
- Advancing Apprenticeship as a Workforce Strategy: An assessment and Planning Tool for the Public Workforce System (Apprenticeship USA)
- Apprenticeship USA Toolkit (U.S. Department of Labor)
- Registered Apprenticeship 101 Bootcamp: Registered Apprenticeship and the Public Workforce System (Workforce GPS)