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Discussion Paper
Tracking a Decade of Growth in Rural Registered Apprenticeships
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 ...
Journal Article
Cover Story: Apprenticeships for Rural America
Apprenticeships, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), "combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly-skilled careers." Many potential apprentices are attracted to the path by the direct pipeline it offers to steady work. ApprenticeshipsUSA, a DOL informational resource on apprenticeships, estimates that 93 percent of apprentices in Registered Apprenticeships are hired by their training company after completing the program. Registered Apprenticeships are programs that meet certain DOL standards, including being industry vetted and paid, ...