Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is the oldest and largest ongoing youth apprenticeship (YA) program in the United States. In the 2022–23 school year, 5,740 employers provided apprenticeships to 8,358 students, up from 1,600 employers and 2,292 apprentices in 2013–2014.
With youth apprenticeship reemerging as an attractive option for preparing young people for careers, Wisconsin’s YA program offers key insights to policymakers and practitioners. This report from the Urban Institute highlights the program’s history, recent growth, and structure.
The distinctive aspects of the program include the use of statewide curricula and skill standards so that a youth apprentice in Green Bay will learn and document the same skills as one in Kenosha.
The report draws on perspectives from state officials, local program directors, and employers. It concludes with lessons from Wisconsin’s program for policy and research.