In recognition of Youth Apprenticeship Week in 2024, Mathematica spoke with Maryland’s Director of Apprenticeship and Training and California’s deputy chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. This recording was supported by the Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence and highlights in-school and out-of-school youth apprenticeship initiatives for youth ages 16–24.

Early care and education (ECE) apprenticeship programs provide structured on-the-job learning combined with job-related education or coursework and are viewed as a promising strategy to prepare people for careers in ECE or provide career pathways for the people currently working in ECE. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation learning agenda offers a strategic approach to develop a portfolio of evidence and learning about the implementation and outcomes of ECE apprenticeship programs. It presents findings from a scan of existing materials and resources on ECE apprenticeships, expert interviews, and discussions at a virtual convening. This resource summarizes what is known about ECE apprenticeships, gaps in the knowledge base, and priorities for future research.

The merits of job training and apprenticeship programs are well known, but certain populations could stand to benefit more from these valuable tools if apprenticeship programs were expanded. Affordable child care and pre-apprenticeship trainings can help more women, low-wage workers, and parents develop the stability and skills needed to succeed in work-based learning programs. The National Skills Coalition lists components of successful pre-employment programs, including case management, coverage of associated costs like transportation, job search and financial assistance, and connections to industry partners and child care centers. They also recommend ways to align TANF, SNAP, and workforce system funds to support pre-employment and child care initiatives.

In this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) report, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. analyzed data from occupational employment projects in every state to determine promising occupations that require no more than 12 months of training beyond high school. Tables are available for each state, and each table ranks occupations from the highest to lowest number of projected annual openings. For each occupation, the report also provides the level of education or training required, growth rate, and the median wage.