As much of the US workforce shifts away from four-year college degrees and becomes more skills-oriented, apprenticeships can provide a pathway to career success. This brief reflects key insights from apprentices who joined tech apprenticeship programs in small and medium-sized businesses in North and South Carolina between 2023 and 2025.

Why This Matters

Apprenticeship is an underutilized workforce training model in the US, in part due to limited awareness among potential apprentices. Helping individuals understand how apprenticeships can benefit them and how to identify the right fit can increase engagement with the model and equip workers with the skills needed to enter the tech industry.

What We Found

• Apprenticeships are not one-size-fits-all. When determining if a program is the right fit, candidates should consider factors such as work environment and schedule, mentoring structure, support offered, wages and benefits, professional development opportunities, and more.
• Apprentices can bring a diverse range of experiences and skills to an apprenticeship. Transferable skills such as problem-solving, analytical thinking, and strong communication can provide a valuable foundation for entering the tech field.
• Apprentices value the opportunity to learn through collaboration and support within their cohorts. Apprentices noted the importance of fostering connections with peers, mentors, and other professionals during the program to build a strong learning community and post-apprenticeship network.

How We Did It

This brief draws on insights learned throughout Urban’s Small and Medium Business Tech Apprenticeship project from 2023 through 2025. Throughout the project, 25 apprentices from 12 programs in North Carolina and South Carolina participated in focus groups to share their experiences with apprenticeships in small and medium-sized businesses.