Apprenticeships: A Promising Strategy for Growing NC’s Skilled Workforce

Apprenticeship programs show great promise as a long-term strategy for creating quality jobs and growing the incomes of working North Carolinians. Apprenticeship programs are unique from other workforce development strategies in that they combine classroom learning with paid on-the-job training and guarantee job placement upon graduation from the program. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary for a worker who completes an apprenticeship program is $50,000.1 The apprenticeship model also sets the path to higher employment opportunities by encouraging life-long learning through trainings that award additional credentials to participants.

There are significant long-term benefits of apprenticeship programs for workers. A cost-benefit analysis of apprenticeship programs in 10 states—conducted by Mathematica Policy Research—found individuals who participated in an apprenticeship program made $66,000 more during the nine-year study period than individuals who did not participate ($114,000 for participants, $48,000 for non-participants). Another study found the average participant in apprenticeship programs experiences an additional $300,000 in earnings over the course of their career.

This report highlights the current state of apprenticeships as a workforce development strategy in North Carolina, as well as recommendations for strengthening the program.