Apprenticeship Expansion Helps Workers and Businesses Thrive

Greg Morgan was proud to work his way up from cashier to assistant store manager at a national drugstore chain in Memphis, Tennessee. However, by his late 20s, he felt trapped. He had always wanted to be in a skilled trade and couldn’t figure out how to change careers.

Then he heard about an apprenticeship program that Jobs for the Future (JFF) helped establish, offering the opportunity to learn a trade through hands-on work. It was a big move—to Nashville and a new life—but he overcame his fear and took the leap.

Now in his early 30s, Morgan says he’s elated to be a third-year apprentice service technician at Trane Technologies, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in North Carolina. He works full-time, earning $31 an hour, up from $22 in his first year and $26 in his second year as he gained new skills. He also receives on-the-job training, related classroom instruction, and mentorship from a veteran technician—all for free.

And he sees an entirely different future than what he ever envisioned back home. After completing the four-year program, Trane technicians earn up to $38 an hour, depending on the region. There’s also plenty of opportunity for career growth.

“The only thing I used to see myself doing was being a store manager,” Morgan said. “I feel lucky that I got the opportunity to come here and learn about a trade. Now I see myself being a lead technician, being a mentor, and teaching others like I was taught.”

JFF provided technical assistance to more than 800 employers to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in the fast-growing advanced manufacturing industry between 2020 and 2025. Approximately 5,600 apprentices across 35 states and Puerto Rico participated.

Trane launched its Registered Apprenticeship program in 2023 and now employs 268 apprentices across 31 states. They have played a vital role in expanding Trane’s talent pipeline, providing its commercial HVAC business in schools, hospitals, office buildings, and sports stadiums with many of the skilled maintenance and repair specialists it needs to grow.

In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, JFF helped roughly 100 employers create Registered Apprenticeship programs serving 1,200 advanced manufacturing apprentices.

Thank you to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration for supporting this work.