Washington, D.C.—Expanding registered apprenticeship programs will expand the pipeline of workers into higher-paying jobs while also meeting the needs of employers, as detailed in a new report released today by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Democrats. Research shows that workers who completed an apprenticeship saw a 49% increase in their earnings.

“When I was a kid, my dad’s work as an IBEW Lineman was our ticket to the middle class. Today, there are even more opportunities for young people to start these same types of careers, helping to build big things again in America. There’s a huge demand for skilled trades workers right now, and it’s going to continue well into the future. By investing in apprenticeship programs, we can create more pathways to jobs in the skilled trades. This will set young people on a real path to a well-paid career with fair benefits in their communities, without depending on a four-year college degree,” said JEC Chairman Martin Heinrich.

Bipartisan bills introduced by Chairman Heinrich, like the Apprenticeships Pathways Act and the Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats Act, would expand access to registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs, strengthen career pipelines for workers across the country, and address workforce shortages. 

Read the full report here.

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