About the Report

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The report is the first of three to present findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) Evaluation implementation study. This initial report primarily uses data from an online survey completed by all grantees, which documented the planning and implementation of grant-supported programs, including characteristics of grantees and their partners, strategies to engage employers, registering apprenticeship programs, identifying and recruiting apprentices, and the major components of apprenticeship programs, including related technical instruction and on-the-job learning. For grantees that operate a pre-apprenticeship program, the survey asked about content of the program, participant characteristics, and linkages to registered apprenticeships.

Research Questions

• How are AAI apprenticeship programs structured?
  • How are programs designed? Which entities—that is, grantees, employers, other partners, or a combination—are involved in program design?
  • What is the nature and content of RTI and OJL?
  • What supports are available to apprentices?
• Who is responsible for registration? Where are programs registered?
• How do grantees identify employers for apprenticeships?
• What strategies do grantees and employers use to identify strong candidates for apprenticeships?
• How are pre-apprenticeship programs structured?

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded AAI grants to a diverse array of public and private organizations, the majority with no prior experience developing registered apprenticeship programs.
• Grantees successfully registered apprenticeship programs and diversified occupations.
• AAI-funded programs award many types of credentials.
• Many grantees sponsor registered apprenticeship programs.
• Grantees successfully recruited apprentices from underrepresented populations.
• The majority of apprentices are incumbent workers.
• The Office of Apprenticeship registered apprenticeship programs more quickly than did State Apprenticeship Agencies.
• Dedicated recruitment staff and financial supports to employers are associated with progress towards apprenticeship targets.
• A greater share of grantees most successful in meeting their apprentice registration targets use Apprenticeship Training Representatives (ATRs) to recruit employers and other sponsors.
• Despite progress registering programs and apprentices, employer recruitment challenges remain.

Citation

Gardiner, K., Kuehn, D., Copson, E., Clarkwest, A. (2021). Abt Associates. Expanding Registered Apprenticeship in the United States: Description of American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees and Their Programs. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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This study was sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development and Research, Division of Research and Evaluation, and was produced outside of CEO’s standard research development process.