Apprenticeships

30 articles

Construction site in Western Australia at dusk, symbolizing the decline in trade apprenticeships despite high demand for skilled labor.
Trades

Western Australia sees fewer trade apprentices as demand rises

Western Australia's skilled trades pipeline has shrunk to a five-year low, with nearly 5,000 fewer apprentices and trainees enrolled since 2021.

Rick Donovan·June 24, 2026
Diverse group of aspiring apprentices engaged in hands-on training in a modern workshop, symbolizing the rise of vocational careers.
Trades

Apprenticeships Surge Past Traditional Training, But Equity Gaps Remain

In 2024, over 560 candidates applied for just 27 spots in the prestigious Rolex apprenticeship program, resulting in a staggering 4.

Rick Donovan·June 9, 2026
High school students participating in a hands-on construction trade program, learning practical skills for future careers in the skilled trades.
Industry

High school construction programs build future skilled workforce

At L'Anse Creuse High School, students scan QR codes on an 'apprenticeship wall' to instantly apply for local construction jobs, bypassing traditional college applications.

Rick Donovan·June 6, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning carpentry and electrical skills in a bright, modern workshop, symbolizing the future of skilled trades.
Trades

Labor Dept. Awards $30M for Skilled Trades Education Apprenticeship Programs

The U.S. Department of Labor is injecting $30 million into skilled trades training programs. BlackRock simultaneously launched a $25 million initiative. This marks a combined $55 million surge in publ

Rick Donovan·June 3, 2026
Students in a vocational training workshop look confused while trying to operate advanced robotic arms and AI machinery, symbolizing the growing skills gap.
Trades

Vocational Training Struggles with Tech Amidst Skills Chasm

By 2030, 2.1 million skilled trade jobs are projected to remain unfilled, a deficit that could cost the economy $1 trillion annually, even as AI and robots begin to reshape these very roles. This stag

Rick Donovan·May 10, 2026
Diverse individuals learning carpentry, electrical, and plumbing skills in a bright, modern training workshop, symbolizing the future of skilled trades.
Trades

BlackRock launches $100 million initiative for skilled trades training

BlackRock, a financial giant known for its investment prowess, has committed $100 million to train up to 50,000 skilled craft workers, marking a significant philanthropic pivot into vocational educati

Rick Donovan·May 7, 2026
Diverse skilled trades workers constructing a modern data center, with subtle tech company branding visible, highlighting the collaboration between the tech industry and union labor.
Industry

Skilled Trades Surge as Tech Giants Expand Apprenticeships Amid Labor Shortage

In some North American markets, building data centers for tech giants now accounts for up to 50% of total work hours for union construction members, according to the Construction Owners Club .

Rick Donovan·May 6, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning skilled trades in a bright, modern workshop, highlighting the surge in vocational training to address labor shortages.
Industry

Apprenticeships Surge: Vocational Training Tackles Skilled Trades Labor Shortage

In 2023, Southern Home Services hired Matt Ellenberg to enhance training.

Ben Foster·May 6, 2026
Young apprentice on a construction site, symbolizing opportunity and financial success through skilled trades.
Trades

Hands-on apprenticeships pay more than you think

The average starting salary after completing an apprenticeship program is a surprising $77,000, offering a direct path to financial stability without college debt.

Ben Foster·May 5, 2026
Diverse individuals working in skilled trades, highlighting the need for equitable access to apprenticeships and career opportunities in Michigan.
Trades

Michigan skilled trades programs are not equitable, new report finds.

In Michigan, where skilled trades jobs are projected to grow by 13% over the next decade, only 18% of current apprenticeships are held by individuals from underrepresented minority groups.

Ben Foster·May 5, 2026
Diverse group of apprentices learning fiber optic installation and electrical wiring in a modern training facility, symbolizing workforce development.
Industry

Apprenticeships Address Skilled Trades Labor Shortage

CBRE and Meta are launching a multiyear initiative called LevelUp to recruit and train thousands of fiber technicians for U.

Rick Donovan·May 2, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning skilled trades like carpentry, electrical, and welding on a sunny construction site, symbolizing future career opportunities.
Trades

National Apprenticeship Week Highlights Skilled Trades Opportunities in 2026

Montana's Registered Apprenticeship Program grew by 33% over the past decade, reaching 3,464 active apprenticeships across 65 occupations in 2025, according to the National Governors Association .

Rick Donovan·April 30, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning carpentry and electrical skills in a well-lit, modern workshop, symbolizing investment in the future of skilled trades.
Industry

BlackRock's $100M Investment Signals Urgent Need for Skilled Trades Apprenticeships

By 2027, the U.S. will need an additional 456,000 workers just to meet demand for construction services. This gap is so vast that corporate giants like BlackRock and Lowe's now pour hundreds of millio

Ben Foster·April 28, 2026
Diverse group of people engaged in hands-on skilled trades training, learning carpentry and electrical skills in a bright, modern workshop setting.
Trades

Lowe's Invests $450M in Skilled Trade Worker Training Programs

Lowe's has committed an additional $200 million to train 250,000 tradespeople by 2035, bringing its total investment to $450 million and signaling a massive corporate intervention into the national sk

Rick Donovan·April 27, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning and working together in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing trades on a construction site.
Industry

What Are Skilled Trades Apprenticeships and Why Do They Matter?

The number of female apprentices in the U.

Ben Foster·April 24, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning skilled trades on a construction site, symbolizing North Carolina's commitment to closing the 2026 labor gap.
Trades

Apprenticeships target 2026 skilled trades labor gap

Despite North Carolina being ranked the 2026 Top State for Workforce Development by NC Governor (.

Rick Donovan·April 20, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning in a modern workshop, utilizing advanced tools, representing the future of skilled trades with Lowe's Foundation support.
Industry

Lowe's Foundation's $250M Bet: Apprenticeship Programs Reshape Skilled Trades

Lowe's Foundation commits an unprecedented $250 million to train 250,000 skilled trade workers by 2035.

Ben Foster·April 19, 2026
Detroit high school students enthusiastically exploring various skilled trades booths, interacting with professionals, and learning about career opportunities at a workforce development expo.
Trades

Detroit teens explore skilled trades at workforce development expo

Last year, over 70% of Detroit high school students who attended the annual Skilled Trades Expo received job offers or apprenticeships before graduation, a stark contrast to national college graduate

Rick Donovan·April 18, 2026
Diverse students participating in hands-on training at a state-of-the-art trade school, symbolizing the future of skilled labor.
Trades

Diverse 2026 Trade School Initiatives for Workforce Development

California alone is deploying $37.

Rick Donovan·April 16, 2026
High school students enthusiastically participating in hands-on skilled trades demonstrations at the BC Skills event in Abbotsford.
Trades

BC Skills event Abbotsford boosts vocational careers in skilled trades

Last year, over 5,000 students in Abbotsford attended a single event showcasing welding, carpentry, and culinary arts, far exceeding expectations for vocational career interest.

Rick Donovan·April 14, 2026
Split image showing a futuristic AI interface and a skilled tradesperson working, symbolizing the balance between technology and human expertise in the modern workforce.
Trades

Lowe's $250M for 250K Workers: Valuing Skills Amid AI Growth

Lowe's is committing a quarter of a billion dollars over the next decade to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople.

Rick Donovan·April 13, 2026
Young people learning skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work in a modern workshop, benefiting from new grants and summer training initiatives aimed at closing the skills gap.
Trades

Youth Skilled Trades Programs Get Boost from New Grants, Summer Initiatives

New grants from The Home Depot Foundation are supporting youth skilled trades programs, while a Michigan-based summer initiative offers free training. These efforts aim to address the persistent skills gap and introduce young people to in-demand careers.

Rick Donovan·April 7, 2026
Young apprentices using modern technology and tools in a state-of-the-art vocational training facility, symbolizing the future of skilled trades and economic growth.
Trades

Modernizing Vocational Training Isn't a Choice; It's an Economic Imperative

The persistent skilled trades gap is a current crisis. Modernizing vocational training and expanding apprenticeships are essential to rebuild the talent pipeline and secure our economic future.

Rick Donovan·April 6, 2026
High school students actively engaged in a modern skilled trades workshop, learning welding, carpentry, and automotive repair, symbolizing new education initiatives.
Trades

High Schools Launch New Skilled Trades Education Initiatives

High schools are launching new skilled trades education initiatives across North America, creating direct pathways to careers for students. These programs address a persistent demand for skilled labor, offering hands-on experience and industry-recognized certifications.

Rick Donovan·April 4, 2026
Young people enthusiastically engaging in hands-on demonstrations at a vibrant skilled trades career fair, exploring various tools and machinery with mentors guiding them.
Trades

Skilled Trades Career Fair Comes to Timmins Amid Global Youth Push

The Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair in Timmins is the latest example of a growing global movement to attract young people into vital trades careers through hands-on events, targeted apprenticeships, and educational reforms.

Rick Donovan·April 4, 2026
Diverse apprentices in a modern vocational training center, welding, working with robotics, and designing, symbolizing the innovation in skilled trades education.
Trades

The Trades Are Calling: We Must Innovate Vocational Training and Apprenticeships Now

The future of our national infrastructure hinges on a robust pipeline of skilled trades professionals. To secure it, we must commit to innovating vocational training and apprenticeships now.

Rick Donovan·April 3, 2026
Students engaged in hands-on vocational training, welding and carpentry, contrasting with traditional high school education, symbolizing the shift towards practical career readiness.
Trades

High Schools Are Failing Students By Ignoring Vocational Training and Apprenticeships

High schools are failing students by pushing only four-year degrees, ignoring the critical need for vocational training and apprenticeships. This oversight exacerbates the skilled trades gap and leaves students unprepared for lucrative careers.

Rick Donovan·April 2, 2026
Diverse students in a modern vocational training center learning skilled trades like welding, carpentry, and electrical work, symbolizing the solution to the labor shortage.
Trades

The Skilled Trades Crisis Has One Obvious Fix We Keep Ignoring

The persistent skilled trades labor shortage demands a renewed focus on vocational training and apprenticeships, the most direct and effective solution we have systematically devalued for decades.

Rick Donovan·April 1, 2026
Industry

How Evolving Skilled Trades Apprenticeships Boost Workforce Development and Wages

Apprentices earn a competitive wage from day one, a core benefit driving the latest trends in skilled trades apprenticeship programs. Federal investment and a focus on diversity are reshaping workforce development across multiple industries.

Ben Foster·April 1, 2026
Young, diverse apprentices learning modern trades with advanced tools and digital interfaces in a bright workshop, symbolizing the future of skilled trades education and workforce development.
Trades

Our Outdated Apprenticeship Programs Are Failing The Next Generation of Trades

To solve the critical skilled trades shortage, we must fundamentally overhaul our approach by modernizing apprenticeship programs. A new framework integrating early education, standardized certifications, and robust public-private partnerships is the only viable path forward.

Ben Foster·April 1, 2026