Apprenticeships offer a proven pathway to sustainable careers. Aspiring apprentices who gain entry to Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs get to learn on the job while earning income – all without paying tuition or incurring debt from student loans. Yet when examining gender and racial representation among apprentices, gaps still persist between Black and Latine workers and white workers.  

A new multi-year study from the Inclusive Economy Lab (IEL) shares more insights into racial representation in apprenticeship programs. Our research includes descriptive analysis of federal registered apprenticeship data, a novel survey of prospective apprentices to explore their underlying assumptions about career development, and an audit of registered apprenticeship programs to understand whether candidates belonging to different racial groups are treated similarly. The research team also created an interactive dashboard with program level data to support job seekers. 

Download to read the full policy brief below. 

Apprenticeships and the Start Your Journey Dashboard 
Using data sourced for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS), the Apprenticeships and the Start Your Journey Dashboard provides program-level information about registered apprenticeships. Users can filter the data using occupation, wage, and industry information for apprenticeship programs in their area.  

Apprenticeships