About the Study
In 2016, the Employment and Training Administration, in partnership with the Chief Evaluation Office, awarded a contract to Abt Associates, with the Urban Institute, MEF Associates, W.E. Upjohn Institute, Capital Research Corporation, George Washington University, and McBassi & Company to evaluate the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) training programs across all 46 grantees, mostly community colleges.
The AAI programs seek to:
- Increase apprentices' access to high-growth occupations and industries
- Create career pathways that encompass apprenticeship and align with post-secondary educational opportunities
- Use strategies that increase apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented populations
- Implement new and innovative public polices or public-private partnerships that increase demand for apprenticeship
- Encourage employers to adopt and offer apprenticeship opportunities
This Department of Labor-funded study contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform programs and policies that impact community colleges, apprenticeships, and employment and training. The project also addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.
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What Are the Costs of Generating Apprenticeships? Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation (October 2022)
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Did Apprentices Achieve Faster Earnings Growth Than Comparable Workers? Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation (October 2022)
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Beyond Productivity: How Employers Gain More from Apprenticeship: Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation (October 2022)
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Implementing Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Experiences of 10 American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees (February 2022)
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Expanding Registered Apprenticeship in the United States: Description of American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees and Their Programs (September 2021)
This study was sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development and Research, Division of Research and Evaluation.
- What benefits accrue to employers of apprenticeship?
- On the supply side, how do AAI grantees generate apprenticeship slots?
- On the demand side, how do AAI grantees and employers identify strong candidates for apprenticeship?
- What are the key features of an AAI apprenticeship?
- What are the employment outcomes for apprentices?
- What innovations and lessons form the basis for broader change and sustainability that encourages employers to adopt apprenticeships?
- Implementation study to describe how AAI programs develop, operate and mature. It will examine the context in which the programs operate, the target group and recruitment strategies, employer perceptions of apprenticeship, partnerships, and training strategies.
- Outcomes study to examine in-program and post-program outcomes of AAI registered apprentices, particularly around employment, earnings, wages, and employment retention, as well as pre-intervention and post-intervention certification and credential attainment. Particular attention will be given to outcomes for underrepresented populations in apprenticeship.
- Return-on-investment study to estimate the benefits and costs of registered apprenticeship to employers.
- Demonstration study to test a strategy for increasing employer adoption of registration of apprenticeship programs implemented by two AAI grantees.
Costs Brief
Lerman, R., Shakesprere, J., Kuehn, D., Katz, B. (2022). Abt Associates. What Are the Costs of Generating Apprenticeships? Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Earnings Growth Brief
Katz, B., Lerman, R., Kuehn, D., Shakesprere, J. (2022). Abt Associates. Did Apprentices Achieve Faster Earnings Growth Than Comparable Workers? Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Indirect Benefits Brief
Marotta, J., Lerman, R., Kuehn, D., San Miguel, M. (2022). Abt Associates. Beyond Productivity: How Employers Gain More from Apprenticeship: Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Underrepresented Populations Brief
Walton, D., Gardiner, K.N. (2022). Abt Associates. Expanding Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities to Underrepresented Populations: Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
WIOA Brief
Gardiner, K., Paulen, L., Copson, E., Katz, B. (2022). Abt Associates. Challenges and Opportunities for Expanding Registered Apprenticeship with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I: Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Demonstration Final Report
John Trutko, J., Copson, E., Marotta, J., Kuehn, D., Trutko, A., Gardiner, K.N. (2022). Abt Associates. Engaging Employers to Register Apprenticeship Programs: Outcomes from the American Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation Employer Engagement Demonstration. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Outcomes Final Report
Walton, D., Gardiner, K.N., Barnow, B. (2022). Abt Associates. Expanding Apprenticeship to New Sectors and Populations: The Experiences and Outcomes of Apprentices in the American Apprenticeship Initiative. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
ROI Final Report
Kuehn, D., De La Rosa, S.M., Lerman, R., Hollenbeck, K. (2022). Abt Associates. Do Employers Earn Positive Returns to Investments in Apprenticeship? Evidence from Registered Programs under the American Apprenticeship Initiative. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Implementation Report
Copson, E., Kappil, T., Gardiner, K., Clarkwest, A., Engle, H., Trutko, A., Trutko J., Glosser, A., Webster, R., Kuehn, D., Lerman, R., Shakesprere, J., (2022). Abt Associates. Implementing Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Experiences of 10 American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Final Implementation Report
Fumia, D., Griffith, T., Copson, E. (2022). Abt Associates. Achieving Apprenticeship Program and Apprentice Registration Targets: Grantee Outcomes from the American Apprenticeship Initiative. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Survey Report
Gardiner, K., Kuehn, D., Copson, E., Clarkwest, A. (2021). Abt Associates. Expanding Registered Apprenticeship in the United States: Description of American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees and Their Programs. Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Program Duration: 88 Months
Contract End Date: November 2022
Contractor: Abt Associates, with the Urban Institute, MEF Associates, W.E. Upjohn Institute, Capital Research Corporation, George Washington University, McBassi & Company
For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.