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Registered apprenticeship (RA) data and statistics, such as data on apprentice retention, demographics, wages, and credential attainment, can be used for reporting purposes, ongoing program monitoring and improvement efforts, and assessing apprenticeship expansion strategies. The purpose of this brief is to describe the current state approaches to apprenticeship data collection, identify promising practices and opportunity areas to improve data systems, and share ideas to support apprenticeship expansion. The brief provides background on apprenticeship data collection systems and approaches, motivations for data collection, what data are collected, and how data are used to support apprenticeship expansion goals. The brief concludes with reflections from states on the challenges and opportunities to improve data collection for RA programs.

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Research Questions

• How are data collected?
• What data are collected?
• What are states’ motivations for data collection?
• How do states use data to further apprenticeship goals?
• What are the challenges and opportunities to improve data collection?

Key Takeaways

• Data collection approaches vary between states. State apprenticeship staff, employers and sponsors, and partners collect data for reporting, apprenticeship program registration, compliance, and tracking progress toward apprenticeship expansion goals.
• States use data to further apprenticeship expansion goals, including public reporting to disseminate information to different audiences and influencing policy decisions, making data systems more aligned, and leveraging staffing and funding to support and sustain apprenticeships.
• There are ways to improve data collection procedures and systems. Potential areas for improvement include providing data collection support and simplifying data collection requirements, having one consolidated data system rather than multiple, expanding access to tools that would streamline data collection, using data to emphasize return on investment, and addressing issues with inaccurate and incomplete reporting that cause data discrepancies.

Citation

Petrov, S., Spaulding, S. (2024). Urban Institute. Data Infrastructure and Measurement to Realize Apprenticeship Goals: Takeaways from Seven States. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.