Turning Insight into Action: How Youth Apprentice Voices Shape the Future of Apprenticeship

More than half of young adults in Germany, ages 18 to 24, are apprentices, while only about two percent of American youth participate in similar programs. Economist Robert Lerman highlighted this gap in a 2023 Fast Company Article, pointing out how much potential the United States has yet to unlock through apprenticeships. The aim of sharing this statistic is not to compare countries, but to highlight a simple truth: the United States is barely tapping the potential of apprenticeship.

Meanwhile, the average total cost of attending a four-year U.S. college now averages $153,000. For many students, the college-only default means taking on what can feel like crippling debt in addition to unclear returns after graduation. Youth apprenticeship offers something different: paid, hands-on learning tied to real-world jobs, earlier exposure to career pathways, and a stronger connection between classrooms and the workforce. It also helps employers build a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline while giving young people experience and confidence they can carry for life.

As current and former youth apprentices, we’ve seen firsthand how these programs can open doors and shape futures, but we’ve also seen how youth voices are often missing from the national conversation. In this piece, which we wrote in our capacity as Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) Youth Council members, we explore how youth advocacy can help expand support for apprenticeships in the U.S., highlight examples of youth-led movements that have made real change, and share ways young people can lead the next phase of growth.

How Youth Advocacy Supports Youth Apprenticeship

Our generation, Gen Z, has been active in social, cultural, racial, and academic issues about climate action, educational equity, and freedom of expression overall. By bringing our lived experiences into the rooms where decisions are made, we can turn insight into action. We can and want to be both the beneficiaries and builders of successful apprenticeship systems.

As more youth apprenticeship programs open doors for young people, we have an opportunity to speak up about what’s working, what needs to be improved, and why the youth perspective matters in shaping the future of work. That’s how we make sure every young person can learn, earn, and thrive.

When youth apprentices can advocate for their “why”—why they chose their specific industry, why they stayed committed to their programs, or why their apprenticeship mattered more than an internship—we’re not just sharing personal wins. We’re shaping a collective narrative that highlights the strength and diversity of apprenticeship. And in doing so, we’re helping policymakers see the impact of these programs not just in numbers on a page, but in the lives that are transformed. Our voices can help ensure programs stay relevant, equitable, accountable, and well-resourced. The needs of youth in our country are complex, and developing solutions for our future as adults through apprenticeship can provide us with the options of challenging ourselves to take on different pathways.

Youth Apprenticeship Experiences: Our Journeys & The Impact

During and after our apprenticeships, we have had the opportunity to share our perspectives with the field in a variety of ways. Through these experiences, we’ve seen how sharing our stories can shift perspectives, influence decisions, and inspire others to see youth apprenticeship as a powerful postsecondary pathway. For example, as a youth apprentice, Maegan has been able to share her experience and ideas for the future on several panels and blogs she's written at New America. She’s been able to talk about her apprenticeship journey, her accomplishments so far, New America’s impact on her education and career goals, and her hopes for the future once she completes her apprenticeship. Chris has also had the opportunity to advocate for youth apprenticeship at the national level, presenting at the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit and speaking directly with policymakers about the importance of expanding access for young people.

As youth apprenticeship advocates, we’ve seen firsthand how powerful the youth voice can be when it’s given a seat at the table. Last year, the entire PAYA Youth Council had the opportunity to share our stories at the U.S. Department of Labor with national leaders shaping the future of apprenticeship policy. Speaking directly to policymakers reminded us that our experiences are more than anecdotes but insights that show how apprenticeship changes lives.

Expert Input on Youth Advocacy

As part of this project, we spoke with three apprenticeship experts to understand their perspective on youth advocacy: John Colborn, Executive Director of Apprenticeships for America; Deborah Kobes, Senior Fellow at Urban Institute; and Jennie Niles, President and CEO of CityWorks DC. Each conversation reminded us of the importance of sharing our stories as former and current youth apprentices.

During these discussions, all of the experts emphasized that apprentices bring essential feedback, helping to ensure programs meet real needs on the ground. They all shared the belief that youth input is significant for youth apprentices. Niles emphasizes that the most valuable lever we have as youth apprentices is our voice, stating the importance of “Getting yourself and other youth in front of testimonies, taking advantage of as many public [speaking] opportunities as possible, which include panels and writing pieces as well. Speaking out to get your voice heard by decision makers, employers, school leaders in the city [DC].” This is essential to improving and scaling apprenticeship programs. Kobes agreed and shared that “The [PAYA] Youth Council offers a unique viewpoint that no policymaker can give [you] as apprentices are the lived experience.”

A Call to Action

For any youth apprentice interested in getting involved, advocacy can start small. Share your story with your program, request a meeting with your local elective official, or apply to join networks like the PAYA Youth Council. If you’re a program leader or policymaker, create more spaces for youth apprentices to be heard and get involved in the decision-making. The most meaningful change happens when young people work alongside decision makers to build systems that shape our futures. The next chapter of youth apprenticeship depends on our ability and willingness to use our voices.