JFF's Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning Blog

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the SHRM HR RAP provides employers with a proven talent development solution for onboarding or upskilling human resource specialists. It also provides apprentices with a cost-effective and efficient point of entry into a well-developed career pathway in HR.

A true commitment to DEIA from employers and partners, with JFF’s help, can make apprenticeship live up to its promise.

Apprenticeship can put workers on pathways to jobs in well-paid careers, but many workers don’t have opportunities to benefit from all that apprenticeship offers. JFF calls on employers to take our pledge to promote inclusion and diversity in apprenticeship.

As Registered Apprenticeship grows, pre-apprenticeships provide a new entry point into the workforce for a new generation of learners and workers.

Amateur sports has a built-in learn-to-work model, industry support, and the cultural relevance that leads to success.

As we honor Black History Month, an honest look at our racist past reveals a more equitable path for the future of apprenticeship and workforce development in our country.

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 will provide an influx of funding to modernize apprenticeship and create opportunities for millions of Americans.

Apprenticeship is a vital component of an equitable economic recovery. This National Apprenticeship Week, we must focus on supporting employers and other stakeholders as they deliver on this potential.

Purdue University’s Cyber Apprenticeship Program (P-CAP) provides the skills and credentials workers need to become a cybersecurity expert for your workplace.

JFF’s new study shows that employers who implemented the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Registered Apprenticeship program had an impressive 48 percent return on investment.

In-person accelerators have always been a successful method for providing employers with a crash course on how to develop a high quality Registered Apprenticeship. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the event shifted to virtual and turned out to be just as—if not more—successful. Here are some key takeaways.

With the nation facing an urgent need to redesign workforce and education systems, an innovative program called GOAL can serve as a model that inspires bold leaders to take a new approach to job training.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, apprenticeship can play an important role in efforts to foster an equitable economic recovery as a key component of new talent development programs and efforts to retrain or upskill current workers.

One of our nation’s most successful job training strategies is at risk of losing momentum. Supporters must take action to maintain apprenticeship gains if the pandemic leads to recession.

The federal work-study program is a valuable resource for many low-income students, but it’s not always providing the meaningful work experiences students need. JFF calls on policymakers to update the program to make it relevant for today’s students.

In this op-ed, Eric Seleznow provides an overview of why apprenticeship in America is at an inflection point and explains the role of businesses in continuing the momentum.

Manufacturer Lippert Components offers a bilingual apprenticeship program to help the 33% of their team members who are Latinx reach their fullest potential.

Seeing a need across the industry, Treehouse has developed a business model from placing underrepresented workers into tech apprenticeships.

Talent and workforce leaders at Mercy Health + Saint Joseph Mercy Health System share steps they took to diversify their apprenticeship cohorts to be more reflective of the communities they serve.

Coleman Spohn Corp. President Lonnie Coleman explains why a diverse apprenticeship program is a key component for his business.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been in effect for nearly three decades, but youth and adults with disabilities still lack sufficient career opportunities. A new initiative aims to change that.

Pre-apprenticeships can help workers from underrepresented populations become “apprenticeship ready.” But these programs lack consistent standards and expectations. JFF’s framework can help new or established programs become effective and equitable, opening new paths to apprenticeship and, ultimately, careers.

A USDOL announcement has opened a 60-day public comment period in which individuals and organizations from across the country can weigh in on the proposed rule change.

Retail careers can play an integral role in helping people develop competitive future-proof skills. The retail industry is primed to offer opportunities for workers to continually hone the skills least susceptible to automation—human skills.

22 companies and industry associations explored what’s working on incorporating equity into their workforce and where further assistance and movement is needed.

This bill establishes a new initiative to grow and expand highly successful intermediaries.

Apprenticeship can help health care employers recruit, train, and retain top-level talent.

Companies show that when apprenticeship is used as part of a business strategy, everybody wins.

Tech companies can’t wait around for their workforce to meet their needs. If these employers get engaged in apprenticeship, they can actively build their talent pools.

The Higher Education Act hasn’t been updated for nearly 11 years. It’s time to make the law work for today’s students, and JFF’s policy team has the solutions.

Creating a comprehensive modern apprenticeship system in California will require a change in the way the state designs, launches, and implements programs.

Adaptable apprenticeships collaboratively design the program's learning component so that it is recognized and valued across an industry or sector.

The DOL's IRAP accreditation process should be put on hold pending more specific guidelines.

Increasing the development and uptake of equitable, high-quality apprenticeship models will require accessibility, structured pre-apprenticeships, and strong intermediaries.

Apprenticeship can offer an alternative to college and open doors to many career opportunities.

JFF joins new Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) as national partner.

Highlights from JFF's recent webinar, Understanding Competency-Based Apprenticeship Models.

Will growth come at the expense of quality? US apprenticeship task force releases final recommendations on expansion to new industry sectors. JFF urges high standards, equal access.

JFF is working with the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation on the national Hospitality Sector Apprenticeship to expand apprenticeship opportunities in new communities.

Most apprentices are employed at the conclusion of their programs, going on to earn an average starting salary of $60,000 a year. But for far too many women and people of color, this is too good to be true.

The technological advances of the past 40 years have fueled the Fourth Industrial Revolution which has greatly impacted the modern workplace. The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production; the Fourth Industrial Revolut

The Center for Young Professionals, a Swiss nonprofit center for basic banking education, is the focus of this final blog on the extremely successful Swiss apprenticeship system.

With Delaware Technical Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Program, high school seniors train for in-demand manufacturing careers by participating in paid summer internships with local companies.

Education, workforce, business, and philanthropic leaders gather at the Career Pathways Lab co-hosted by Jobs for the Future, Linked Learning Alliance, and The Wonderful Company in Beverly Hills, California.* This month, Jobs for the Future (JFF) organize

The value of apprenticeships is even more pronounced when they provide pathways for individuals who face barriers to entering the middle class. How can we make sure that apprenticeships are a real option for workers from every community, including women and minorities?

Summer can be one of the most transformational times of the year for high school students. This became evident after I traveled to Morristown, Tennessee, to see a group of high school students present their summer internship experiences at the

“Helping the World Run Better” is no small feat, but that is what the largest worldwide independent software manufacturer, SAP, endeavors to do with its products and services.