Registered Apprenticeship Initiatives Evaluation

• Apprenticeship Building America Implementation Study Design: Youth Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship Study (Evaluation Design Report, September 2023)

• A Review of the Literature on Registered Apprenticeships: Evaluating Registered Apprenticeship Initiatives (Literature Review, September 2023)

Implementation Study of State Apprenticeship System Building & Modernization

1. In what ways did grantees expand registered apprenticeships? What was the planning process states used to prioritize objectives and modernize systems? 
2. What types of partners did grantees work with to meet the goals of the grant? What were the roles and responsibilities of these partners and how did they contribute to meeting the goals of the grant?
3. What strategies did grantees use to increase equity in access to RAPs? How did grantees perceive differences in strategies affecting gaps, barriers, and opportunities?
4. What types of state-level system changes were associated with grantee efforts?
5. What are promising strategies from stakeholder perspectives that merit bringing to scale?

Implementation Evaluation of Strategies to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities for Youth and Strategies for Equitable RAP Pathways Through Pre-apprenticeship that Lead to Registered Apprenticeships

1. What are the components of existing models of pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to RAPs? How do the components of those funded under this grant program differ from existing pre-apprenticeship programs?
2. How do the goals and intended outcomes of pre-apprenticeship programs vary?
3. What strategies are used to implement pre-apprenticeship programs? Which strategies appear to be most successful?
4. What strategies appear to have been promising in growing the number of pre-apprenticeship programs, with a focus on pre-apprenticeship programs that articulate to RAPS as a part of a career pathway?
5. What types of partners did grantees work with to meet the goals of the grant? What were their roles and responsibilities and how did they contribute to meeting the goals of the grant?
6. What are some perceived promising practices for working with industries/sectors, types of employers (such as large or small businesses), and other key stakeholders? How does this compare with prior apprenticeship studies?
7. What are the completion rates and wages for participants in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs? How do these completion rates and wages differ by various subgroups, including underrepresented populations?
8. In what ways did grantees expand and/or create new registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for youth?
9. What strategies have been associated with increasing the participation of youth (16-24) in RAPs and pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to RAPs?

Implementation Evaluation of Registered Apprenticeship Hubs (RAH)

1. In what ways did grantees expand and/or create new RAPs through RAH? What was the planning process grantees used to prioritize goals, objectives, and industries?
2. What strategies are RAHs using in engaging with industry and employers? What role did industry and employers play in meeting the goals of the grant? What strategies do grantees perceive to be promising?
3. To what extent are RAHs  working to advance equity in both traditional and new and emerging sectors and occupations?
4. What strategies are RAHs using to outreach about their services? To what extent are those strategies associated with increased use of RAH services?
5. What TA activities are RAHs engaging in to help bolster or expand registered apprenticeships? What are practices that stakeholders perceive as promising?
6. In what ways are RAH’s TA activities and services helping customers? What are customer perceived benefits and challenges?

Despite recent evidence of the positive effects of apprenticeship, many questions remain about whether benefits are consistent across industries, employers, workers, and program models. Additionally, there is little rigorous evidence regarding the impact of pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs, programs developed through community colleges and other intermediaries, and effective strategies to increase diversity among apprentices. DOL has funded research studies, including the ABA evaluation, that will build evidence on some of these aspects of apprenticeship, and more information will be available in the next few years as those studies release findings.

Evaluation Design Report

Kuehn, D. (2023). Urban Institute. Apprenticeship Building America Implementation Study Design: Youth Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship Study. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

Literature Review

Butrica, B.A., Jones, E., Rosenberg, L., Sattar, S., Sotelo, V. (2023). Urban Institute. A Review of the Literature on Registered Apprenticeships: Evaluating Registered Apprenticeship Initiatives. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.