Apprentices of the World, Unite!

When adults want to return to school, they face many challenges including the experience of long waitlists for classes, and poor relevance to the job skills they need for future employment. The Washington state community college system has started a program known as Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) that instead teaches in two parts: academic content and basic soft skills.

A just-announced $6 million federal grant will help end poverty in Memphis, Tennessee.

A UNM-Taos nursing program has been touted by the college and the hospital as a great example of workforce development in a community that has long struggled with economic development. As leaders continue to look for ways to diversify the economy beyond low-paying tourism and service industry gigs, the program might be one example of how to effectively merge education and workforce development.

Many students who are funneled into remedial courses don't end up completing their community college degrees. For the past decade, I-BEST has offered students a hands-on approach, connecting academic work with direct job skills training to make classroom content less theoretical. Called "the most-copied idea to come out of Washington’s community-college system," I-BEST has increased students' likelihood of learning a credential by nine times.

Virginia's FastForward program helps students access job training programs and earn credentials faster at a lower cost, with participants paying only one third of the amount. Students who complete one of the eligible programs see their wages increase by an average of $14,869.

Nonprofits Manufacturing Renaissance and Youth Crossroads provide vocational training that Chicago's public schools have largely abandoned, particularly in disinvested communities. Manufacturing Renaissance runs free seven-week metalworking cohorts that include stipends, tools, job placement support, and an alumni network, and has trained more than 1,200 young adults since 1982. Youth Crossroads offers multiple workforce tracks, including HVAC certification and paid internships, and 88% of trade program graduates report feeling prepared to enter the workforce.

Electric Boat's "The Boat for NEXT GEN" program partners with Westport High School, CCRI and New England Tech to provide juniors and seniors with hands-on exposure to various trades through twice-weekly after-school sessions. Students who complete the program can apply for paid training positions that lead directly to full-time employment with comprehensive benefits at Electric Boat's submarine manufacturing facilities.

To quickly build a skilled workforce, two Kansas community colleges and Panasonic created an accelerated 8-week apprenticeship, funded by the company and featuring tailored classroom and practical training. The program aims to fast-track workers into Panasonic's new EV battery factory while providing clear career pathways through stackable credentials.

Shasta College partners with timber companies to help train apprentices for the industry, providing pre-apprenticeship coursework and helping to facilitate state and federal funding that offsets the cost of on-the-job training. So far, about 50 people have completed the pre-apprenticeship program, while 15 have completed the full apprenticeship.

A partnership between Essex Tech North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School, and Local 22 trade union members is teaching students union norms and trade skills early in their career, connecting them to apprenticeships and greater career opportunities. Other states, including Maryland and Louisiana, have similar programs and students report feeling a greater sense of job security and that they can command higher pay from employers due to the expertise gained from the program.