What We Found

Despite growing interest in apprenticeship, many employers remain unsure how to get started—especially when it comes to hiring younger workers. This brief examines how the Urban Institute and the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America supported employers in designing and launching youth apprenticeship programs, drawing on five years of experience as federally funded intermediaries. Together, these efforts resulted in nearly 2,000 new youth apprenticeships, twice the number targeted by the US Department of Labor. The brief outlines what works in employer outreach, program design and registration, and support for employers’ mentoring and scaling efforts.

We provide examples of apprenticeships in action and draw strategies from these experiences. One notable example is how Pfizer selected Urban to build its national program, based on its national reputation — demonstrating the value of trusted intermediaries in gaining employer interest and commitment to apprenticeships.

Why This Matters

Expanding youth apprenticeship is essential to addressing workforce shortages and improving job opportunities for young people. We offer actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to scale registered youth apprenticeships.