Apprentice Voices: What It Costs to Persist in Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is widely recognized as a proven pathway to quality jobs, but for many apprentices, the path is harder than it looks from the outside. A new JFF report, grounded in interviews and data from apprentices across the country, takes a closer look at what it actually takes to complete a program. The findings may surprise you. Join us for the launch of the report and hear directly from apprentices whose stories shaped it.

Research has shown that financial barriers are among the most common reasons apprentices don’t complete their programs. In April 2025, Jobs for the Future (JFF), with support from Google.org, launched the National Apprentice Fund — a $2 million initiative providing direct financial assistance to apprentices across the country facing challenges with housing, transportation, childcare, and other essential costs.

In this webinar, JFF will present findings from a new report on the National Apprentice Fund, joined by apprentices who received the fund and are willing to talk candidly about their experience.

Participants will hear directly from apprentices who have navigated these challenges, explore cross-sector findings on the structural nature of financial barriers, and engage with actionable implications for funders, program administrators, and policymakers working to build a more accessible and durable apprenticeship ecosystem.