Discussion Paper

Tracking a Decade of Growth in Rural Registered Apprenticeships

Abstract: Apprenticeship is a compelling workforce development model for rural communities looking to grow and retain local talent. However, little is known about how common apprenticeship is in rural communities. In this post1, we look at the past 10 years of data on Registered Apprenticeship statewide and nationally. Between 2016 and 2025, the share of registered apprentices in rural communities has grown steadily: In 2025, nearly one-fifth (18 percent) of new apprentices were located in rural communities. While urban communities add more apprentices each year due to their population size, by percentage, rural apprenticeship is growing at a faster rate. Since 2023, the number of new apprentices grew by 16 percent in rural communities and grew by 6 percent in urban communities. Youth participation is one part of the story behind the growth in rural apprenticeship. Over the last decade, the share of apprentices aged 16 to 24 in rural communities grew by 15 percentage points to 43 percent in 2025. In the last three years, youth participation explained more than half of the growth in Registered Apprenticeship in rural communities. As rural communities build robust workforce pathways, apprenticeship will continue to be an important model. In addition, designing programs for youth success will be important for continued growth in apprenticeship.

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Regional Matters

Publication Date: 2026-08-20