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Employers are an indispensable part of registered apprenticeship (RA) programs. Because they hire and train apprentices on the job and sponsor apprenticeship programs, state efforts to expand apprenticeship depend on outreach to and recruitment of employers. This brief describes seven states’ efforts to expand the number of employers engaging in apprenticeship programs. The brief defines registered apprenticeship and the employer’s key role in apprenticeship programs, summarizes state goals for recruiting employers, describes state staff and partners involved in employer recruitment and recruitment practices, and concludes with employers’ rationale for participating in apprenticeship programs.

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Research Questions

• What are states' goals for recruiting employers? What factors underly their goals?
• How do states staff employer recruitment activities? How do they engage partners in employer recruitment?
• What strategies do states and their partners use to recruit employers? Which strategies do they deem most effective?
• Why do employers start apprenticeship programs? What are their primary motivations?

Key Takeaways

• All seven states described recruiting employers in nontraditional occupations-that is, outside the construction industry-as a key recruitment goal. One state quantified its employer recruitment goal; three others described employer recruitment within the context of a larger apprentice recruitment goals.
• States used their own staff, intermediaries, and other partners to recruit employers. Two states assigned staff to specific regions where they built relationships with employers and other apprenticeship partners. Two states used intermediaries to recruit employers in specific industries (e.g., advanced manufacturing, information technology). All seven collaborated with local partners, such as American Job Centers, to sell apprenticeship to employers.
• All seven states used "retail" recruitment methods that tailored the message to the employer's needs. They also noted that "wholesale" messaging can help dispel myths about apprenticeship, particularly among employers in nontraditional industries.
• Employers in all seven states described alleviating staffing shortages and building a talent pipeline as the rationale for launching a registered apprenticeship program. Employers also noted their programs helped reduce staff turnover and broadened their recruitment pool by providing opportunities to workers who might not otherwise be competitive.

Citation

Gardiner, K., Wilson, J. (2024). Urban Institute. Strategies to Engage Employers in Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Takeaways from Seven States. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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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 and CEO’s research development process.