In the past, the word “apprenticeship” may have evoked a vision of a young person learning a skilled trade, climbing scaffolding with a mentor, mastering plumbing or carpentry work through years of hands-on training. And while that pathway still exists, it’s no longer the whole story. Apprenticeship as an on-ramp has expanded into healthcare, technology, business operations and knowledge work, creating earn-while-you-learn opportunities for workers across various industries.
Federally, our government is sending a clear message about the continued momentum of this evolution. Last year, the Department of Labor announced its goal to reach one million active apprentices nationwide. This year, the Employment and Training Administration announced $145 million in funding for a "pay-for-performance" incentive model that rewards employers $3,000 to $6,000 per apprentice. Industries of focus for this funding include artificial intelligence (AI), information technology, healthcare, transportation and telecommunication.
For individuals skilled through alternative routes (STARs), these pathways into high-opportunity careers are especially important. Apprenticeships offer earning potential, hands-on skill-building, industry-recognized credentials and zero debt. At a time when starting or changing a career often hinges on affordability, apprenticeships are a low-cost, high-return option.
SkillUp’s Data Tells a High-Potential Story
On SkillUp's platform, apprenticeship offerings have grown significantly over the years. In our jobs catalog, we’ve seen 600% growth in apprenticeship job opportunities offered directly by employers. There are also over 833 apprenticeship training programs available from training providers, representing 9% of our training catalog. Our catalogs are updated multiple times per week to reflect real-time demand and, as always, are deeply vetted and quality standards aligned.
Both our platform engagement and user survey data show that STARs are leaning in. Approximately 33% of SkillUp users who report being enrolled in a training are leveraging some type of work-based learning opportunity, such as apprenticeships (10%), internships (12%) and on-the-job training programs (11%), which provide hands-on development essential for careers.
"On-the-job training models create accessible pathways for talented individuals who may not hold a four-year degree but clearly possess the skills and attributes needed to succeed,” said Emily Dickens, Chief Administrative Officer at SHRM and SkillUp Board Member. "Talent shortages remain a critical concern across industries, with 82% of organizations reporting that apprenticeships effectively address these gaps. The impact is clear: 90% of workers who complete apprenticeship programs remain employed, resulting in higher productivity, reduced turnover, and lower recruitment costs.”
Moving Beyond the Trades
Skilled trades are still the largest industry in apprenticeship, comprising 85% of offerings on our platform. Electricians alone account for 39% of all apprenticeships. Plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, HVAC technicians and sheet metal workers round out the top offerings.
Growth is happening in other, non-traditional apprenticeship industries, too. Transportation and logistics apprenticeships represent 6% of our industry offerings. Healthcare, business operations — such as HR — and technology roles are increasingly adopting apprenticeship models, recognizing that hands-on learning combined with structured skill-building enables job-ready workers.
But making apprenticeships accessible requires us to go beyond only posting job or training opportunities. Potential workers have to understand what apprenticeships actually are, how to apply, and how to navigate the process. We’ve partnered with organizations like Prentix to offer SkillUp users free, interactive workshops designed to help individuals understand and start apprenticeships in skilled trades. Coalition partners like Grads of Life and Year Up United help us elevate visibility of work-based learning opportunities through their complementary services and direct connections with STARs. And our immersive career exploration from CareerViewXR helps to close information gaps about what the day-to-day of a career looks like.
"For STARs, these work-based learning opportunities provide immediate earning potential and invaluable hands-on experience. SkillUp's commitment to pairing rigorous quality standards with in-demand skill-building means people can build rewarding careers while simultaneously solving employer talent pipeline challenges," said Dickens.
What Comes Next
National Apprenticeship Week, on April 26 through May 2 in 2026, is an annual opportunity to spotlight the growing momentum in the space. We will join Grads of Life and Year Up United for a virtual event on May 1, 2026 to discuss how we can scale apprenticeship through the pay-for-performance model.
As federal momentum builds and as more workers discover that earning while learning is both possible and practical, our mission as a tech-forward platform built for STARs becomes increasingly important to provide visibility and awareness of these pathways, as well as access to these opportunities. Because of our rigorous vetting process, every apprenticeship meets strong quality standards. Our data insights help us understand who's pursuing these pathways and what support they need, which allows us to continually grow our ecosystem of partners to ensure workers have all the support needed to pursue pathways that lead to sustainable, in-demand and well-paying jobs.
Today’s apprenticeships are proven pathways that benefit both workers and employers. We remain all-in on providing STARs ways to advance their careers, while simultaneously solving talent shortages that hold businesses back. Explore apprenticeship opportunities within our platform at explore.skillup.org.
