States and Cities Receive Millions in Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grants from the U.S. Department of Labor

This summer, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded over $42 million in Youth Apprenticeship Readiness grants to 14 organizations to increase youth participation in new or existing Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). This investment marks the first federal initiative targeted specifically at youth apprenticeship since the School-to-Work Opportunities Act nearly 25 years ago, and will provide resources to expand apprenticeship opportunities at a critical time for young adults. In particular, the investment encourages programs to improve apprenticeship access and outcomes for historically underserved populations, including women, people of color, ex-offenders, persons with disabilities, youth with barriers to employment, and out-of-school youth.

The fourteen Youth Apprenticeship Readiness (YAR) grant recipients will implement strategies to increase youth participation in new or existing Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) across a range of industries, including healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, and social services. Seven PAYA Network members were involved in successful applications, which received roughly $23 million overall. Several YAR grantees, such as Apprenticeship Carolina and Idaho Workforce Development Council, have proposed strategies to replicate youth apprenticeship pilot programs across a region or state. Others will build on the success of existing pre-apprenticeship programs or registered apprenticeship systems, building stronger pathways to credentials and careers for youth. Regardless of their approach, however, all YAR grantees will prioritize strengthening collaborations between education and workforce systems at both the state and local levels.

This fall, we caught up with system leaders in seven states to learn more about their ambitious plans for developing and expanding youth apprenticeship in their communities, through partnerships supported by this historic federal investment.

As workforce and education leaders across the country look to adapt to a changing economy and grow and retain local talent, youth apprenticeship offers an opportunity for state leaders to support youth in an economic recovery and future talent development efforts. However, they can’t do it alone. The significant federal investment will provide critical resources to support strong state, regional, and local partnerships that will be necessary to expand youth apprenticeship programs and build the statewide infrastructure to link programs and support their sustainability over time.

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