Celebrating Youth Apprenticeship Week
The first-ever Youth Apprenticeship Week (May 5–11, 2024) is a nationwide celebration that spotlights the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship programs for youth and young adults.
Through youth apprenticeship programs, students can complete high school, earn college credentials and develop valuable job skills through paid work experiences.
These programs also help businesses and industries; as apprentices develop and employ skills, they become contributors to a company’s bottom line.
“Too often, education and employment are competing in the lives of young people,” says Allison Gerber, the Casey Foundation’s director of employment, education and training. “Youth apprenticeship programs allow young adults to balance school and work, making college more affordable for many.”
Read on for resources and data on the benefits of youth apprenticeship for both young people and employers.
Youth Apprenticeship Findings
Project on Workforce
A report — The Options Multiplier: Decoding the CareerWise Youth Apprentice Journey — analyzed results from CareerWise Colorado, a state-level youth apprenticeship program. It found:
- Sixty-four percent of apprentices in the program ultimately transitioned to employment, postsecondary education or both.
- Twenty-six percent of students who did not complete their apprenticeship still elected to pursue two-year, four-year or technical degrees.
Urban Institute
Two publications draw on findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative to demonstrate the comprehensive benefits of apprenticeships for employers.
Do Employers Earn Positive Returns to Investments in Apprenticeship?, a study on the return on investment for employers, found:
- Two-thirds of employers at least recouped their apprenticeship investments.
- The median return on investment is $144 for every $100 invested.
Beyond Productivity: Employer Gains from Apprenticeship examines the range of indirect benefits of apprentice productivity. It notes:
- Ninety-six percent of employers reported improved company culture because of apprenticeships.
- More than 90% of employers reported their apprenticeship programs led to improvements in their talent pipelines and increased employee loyalty.
Resources for Supporters of Youth Apprenticeship
The National Governor Association’s Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship
Building Systems for Success: Key Considerations for Youth Apprenticeship System Designoffers questions to consider when developing state-level youth apprenticeship programs. These questions touch on topics such as:
- active legislation related to apprenticeship;
- sources of funding;
- short-term and long-term program goals;
- ensuring the quality and accessibility of programs; and
- incentives to ensure employer participation.
New America
Two recent reports offer insights on employers and organizations that serve as intermediaries that match young workers to employers.
How to Attract Employers to Youth Apprenticeship looks at how employers can be motivated to participate in apprenticeship programs. It focuses on strategies that initiatives can use to underscore why youth apprentices are important workforce assets. Ideas emphasized include:
- Apprentices are an investment that creates value. Unlike internships, apprenticeships encourage the creation of long-term, skilled employees.
- Cultivating young talent is vital. Apprenticeships allow employers to add productive workers to their labor force and cultivate more inclusive workplaces.
Unraveling the Finance Models of Work-Based Learning Intermediaries looks at financing models for work-based learning intermediaries and their funding challenges. It offers tailored recommendations for supporters of work-based learning intermediaries:
- Leaders of work-based learning intermediaries: Estimate the true costs of implementing programming determine fund-mapping opportunities and invest in staff capacity.
- State and federal policy leaders: Reduce the burden of application and reporting requirements faced by work-based learning intermediaries.
- Philanthropic leaders: Make flexible fiscal investments in intermediaries as they build capacity and develop partnerships.
Discover how the PAYA is bringing apprenticeship opportunities to young people
