The U.S. labor market is at a crossroads. Despite unemployment holding steady at around 4.2 percent, many sectors and their employers face a persistent struggle to fill positions. This challenge is driven by several interconnected factors: an aging population, lagging labor force participation, and a widening gap between our education/training system and labor market demand that leaves many workers unprepared for good jobs.
The situation is further complicated by the rapid pace of technological change and the rise of generative artificial intelligence, which are reshaping industries and intensifying the mismatch between workers’ skills and employers’ needs. And jobs in infrastructure, energy, and semiconductor sectors are projected to create approximately 2.9 million jobs annually if federal support continues. The pressing question remains: Who will fill these roles?
One powerful solution lies in a time-tested workforce development model: apprenticeship.
This report from Jobs for the Future recommends a comprehensive set of federal policies to modernize and scale apprenticeships, meeting the needs of today’s workers and the demands of today’s economy.