Describing apprenticeships as “a proven path to high-quality, secure, middle-class jobs,” the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently awarded $10.4 million in ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grants.
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The DOL reports that apprenticeship programs benefit both apprentices and employers. In fact, the vast majority of apprentices (87%) are employed after completing their programs, and their average starting wage tops $50,000, according to the DOL.
In addition, “international studies suggest that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers may get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity, reduced waste, and greater front-line innovation,” the DOL states.
Each of the 51 states and territories, as well as the District of Columbia, was awarded a $200,000 grant in this round of awards, which is part of a $90 million investment in the Fiscal Year 2016 spending bill to expand registered apprenticeship programs.