June 9, 2026
Led by JFF, Apprenticeships Unlocked is a national initiative designed to grow apprenticeship by helping employers design, launch, and scale high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs across any sector or occupation.
Apprenticeships Unlocked is a national initiative led by Jobs for the Future (JFF), with Google.org’s support, that’s designed to grow apprenticeship by helping employers design, launch, and scale high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs across any sector or occupation.
Across the country, employers seeking to adopt or expand apprenticeships—especially those whose programs span state lines—face a number of challenges, including disconnected education and workforce systems and a complex web of varying rules and regulations. Apprenticeships Unlocked will help employers overcome those barriers by tapping the expertise JFF has developed over many years of advancing apprenticeship at the national and local levels and by forging strong partnerships with well-qualified intermediaries.
Apprenticeships Unlocked plans to engage hundreds of employers and register at least 1,000 apprentices at the national and state levels over the next four years, all with the intention of strengthening regional ecosystems that make apprenticeship work over the long term.
JFF has a long history of designing high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs that address the needs of both jobseekers and employers, from first-time adopters to companies scaling programs across multiple states. Through Apprenticeships Unlocked, JFF and our partners provide employers with hands-on support—at no cost—to design high-impact apprenticeship programs that build the talent they need to stay competitive.
Interested? Scroll down to learn more and get in touch with JFF.
Employers who need help with any aspect of getting an apprenticeship registered—from design and implementation to formalizing compliance processes or navigating state and federal systems.
Employers at any stage of readiness, from those that are turning to apprenticeship for the first time to organizations looking to strengthen or expand established programs.
Apprenticeships Unlocked takes a flexible approach to working with employers to design and implement apprenticeship programs that are tailored to meet each organization’s specific needs. Here are the ways JFF can support your efforts to develop a Registered Apprenticeship program that reflects your organization’s goals, size, and level of readiness for Registered Apprenticeship.
JFF will take the time to understand your talent needs and identify intermediaries in your state that are actively supporting apprenticeship programs aligned with those needs. We then help you connect with those intermediaries to streamline your journey toward building a successful apprenticeship program.
Large employers with operations in multiple states often need help building comprehensive enterprise-wide programs—especially when it comes to navigating rules and regulations that differ across jurisdictions and understanding the various apprenticeship options available in each location. JFF works alongside employers from concept through implementation to find ways to strengthen their talent pipelines by aligning regional partners and designing apprenticeship programs that are built for long-term success and offer consistent experiences for workers across state lines.
Apprenticeships Unlocked can work with employers that are specifically focused on building tech talent to launch and implement apprenticeships using established standards developed for the following occupations:
Employers will be able to plug into Google’s Registered Apprenticeship programs in these occupations and have access to Google Career Certificates, as well as AI courses from Google at no cost to employers. This portion of AU will be facilitated through GoSprout’s online Registered Apprenticeship management platform, a cloud-based solution designed to simplify the administration of Registered Apprenticeship programs.
Apprenticeships Unlocked engages a network of partners with deep expertise in specific sectors to offer employers hands-on support to design, launch, and scale apprenticeship programs.
Apprenticeships Unlocked provides hands-on technical assistance to help employers move from interest to action.
We support employers by:
Our goal is to help employers embed apprenticeship as a core, long-term workforce development strategy.
Whether you’re exploring apprenticeship for the first time or are ready to scale an existing program, JFF is here to help.
Connect with JFF to learn more about Apprenticeships Unlocked, explore opportunities to design your own program, or access technical assistance.
Apprenticeships Unlocked is a national initiative led by Jobs for the Future (JFF), with Google.org’s support, to help employers build, register, and scale high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs. Through the initiative, JFF provides hands-on technical assistance, access to shared infrastructure, and regional support to make apprenticeship more accessible and sustainable for employers.
Apprenticeships Unlocked is for employers at all stages of apprenticeship readiness, including:
JFF provides hands-on technical assistance tailored to employer needs in areas such as these:
No. Apprenticeships Unlocked supports employers at all stages. JFF is here for employers that are just beginning to explore apprenticeship as well as those that are looking to strengthen or scale existing programs. JFF meets employers where they are and helps determine the best path forward.
Apprenticeships Unlocked is available to support employers in any sector. JFF will work with individual companies to first identify the jobs that are hard to fill and then determine whether those jobs are well-suited for apprenticeship. JFF works with employers to ensure that programs align with their business goals and workforce needs.
Employers interested in Apprenticeships Unlocked can complete our interest form to connect with JFF to explore participation, sponsorship opportunities, or technical assistance.
Apprenticeships Unlocked services are available free of charge, with Google.org’s support.
Yes! JFF’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning has helped thousands of employers and apprenticeship practitioners over the years, and we’ve published a number of resources with valuable information about the fundamentals of apprenticeship. Here are just a few examples:
Google has also developed apprenticeship resources, including a new Apprenticeships Toolkit.
Once you’ve connected with JFF and the Apprenticeships Unlocked team, we will be happy to provide you with a more curated list of resources that’s tailored to your organization’s unique talent needs and reflects your specific interests in apprenticeship.
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