90+ Manufacturing Apprenticeship Statistics for 2025-2026

Manufacturing Apprenticeship Enrollment & Growth Statistics

Registered apprenticeships across all US industries have seen dramatic growth over the past decade. The Office of Apprenticeship, part of the DOL's Employment and Training Administration, oversees the workforce system that tracks these programs. Manufacturing, while smaller than construction, is one of the fastest-growing sectors for apprenticeship adoption. Each fiscal year brings new apprentices into the pipeline, and the benefits of registered apprenticeship in the United States continue to attract both employers and workers to the trade.

1. In FY 2025, 97,500 registered apprentices were served in the advanced manufacturing industry, a 20% increase over the past five years. (Apprenticeship.gov)
2. From 2019 through 2022, 154,000 apprentices enrolled in manufacturing apprenticeship programs nationwide, making it the fourth-largest sector. (Community College Daily)
3. Total active participants in registered apprenticeships across all industries more than doubled in less than a decade, growing from 318,000 in FY 2014 to 680,000 in FY 2024, a 114% increase. (Community College Daily / DOL Report)
4. In FY 2024, approximately 940,000 workers participated in Registered Apprenticeship Programs across all industries, including construction, technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and energy. (U.S. GAO)
5. The number of apprenticeship graduates grew 143% over a 10-year period, from about 46,000 completers in FY 2014 to nearly 112,000 completers in FY 2024. (Community College Daily)
6. In FY 2021, there were nearly 27,000 active registered apprenticeship programs in the US and its territories. Nearly 2,879 new programs were established in FY 2021 alone. (Camoin Associates / DOL Data)
7. Manufacturing had 23,720 active apprentices in FY 2021, with enrollment growing steadily year over year. (Camoin Associates)
8. The number of youth apprenticeships grew 113% between 2010 and 2020, far exceeding the overall growth in youth employment. (Jobs for the Future)
9. Over 800,000 apprentices are now served annually across all industries nationwide, up from fewer than 400,000 a decade ago. (Apprenticeship.gov)

Employer ROI & Business Impact of Manufacturing Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships aren't just a training cost. They generate measurable returns for employers who invest in them. The Department of Labor has published detailed ROI studies that quantify these benefits.

10. Employers realize an average return on investment of $1.47 for every $1 invested in registered apprenticeship programs. (National Apprenticeship)
11. The median employer ROI on registered apprenticeships is 44.3%, meaning every $100 an employer invests in the program generates $144.30 in total benefits. (DOL AAI Infographic)
12. The 75th percentile employer experienced a 120.7% ROI on their apprenticeship investment. The 25th percentile employer saw a -7.4% ROI, meaning most employers see positive returns. (DOL ROI Final Report)
13. Most employers experienced positive net benefits after the apprentice completed the apprenticeship, with benefits continuing to accrue as trained workers remained with the company. (DOL AAI Infographic)
14. Employers report a 90% retention rate of apprentices upon program completion, significantly higher than national manufacturing turnover rates. (EDSI)
15. According to the DOL, 93% of apprentices who complete a Registered Apprenticeship program retain employment afterward. (EDSI / DOL)
16. The national employee turnover cost averages $4,000 to $7,000 per hire. Apprenticeships with 90%+ retention rates save employers significant recruiting and onboarding expenses. (EDSI)
17. Over 80% of active apprenticeship programs in FY 2021 were administered directly by employers, demonstrating strong private-sector investment. (Camoin Associates)
18. Active apprentices were roughly evenly split between employer-only programs (53%) and joint programs between an employer and a labor organization (47%). (Camoin Associates)

Manufacturing Apprenticeship Wages & Earnings Data

One of the strongest arguments for manufacturing apprenticeships is the wage trajectory. Apprentices earn while they learn, and their wages increase substantially by program completion.

19. Apprentices across all industries earned on average $18 per hour at entry and $32 per hour upon completion, a wage growth of 77%. (DOL Report via Community College Daily)
20. The average starting salary after completing a registered apprenticeship program is over $80,000 per year. (Apprenticeship.gov)
21. Apprentices who complete their programs earn a $300,000+ lifetime earning advantage compared to peers without apprenticeship training. (Apprenticeship.gov)
22. Among all apprentices, 76% of starting wages were at least $15 per hour, 56% could cover basic living expenses, and 35% could afford modest two-bedroom apartments. (DOL Report)
23. Upon program completion, 95% of exit wages exceeded $15 per hour, 92% of completers could cover basic expenses, and 74% could afford modest two-bedroom apartments. (DOL Report)
24. The median annual wage for machinists was $56,150 in May 2024, with apprenticeship-trained machinists typically earning at the higher end of the range. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
25. In the construction sector (the benchmark for apprenticeships), 98% of exit wages could cover basic expenses and 82% could pay for modest two-bedroom apartments. Manufacturing apprenticeship wages follow a similar trajectory. (DOL Report)

Apprenticeship Completion & Retention Rates

Completion and retention metrics are where apprenticeships truly differentiate themselves from other workforce training approaches. The data shows consistently strong outcomes for both apprentices and employers.

26. 93% of apprentices who complete a Registered Apprenticeship program retain employment afterward. (EDSI / U.S. Department of Labor)
27. Employers report a 90% retention rate for apprentices after program completion, compared to the national average employee turnover rate of roughly 47% in manufacturing. (EDSI)
28. Since FY 2014, the number of apprentices completing their training each year has grown from 44,417 to 96,915 in FY 2021, a 118% increase. (Camoin Associates / DOL)
29. By FY 2024, annual completions reached nearly 112,000 graduates, a 143% increase over FY 2014. (Community College Daily)
30. The national apprenticeship completion rate varies significantly by state and industry. The DOL provides a beta completion rate analysis tool showing state-level breakdown. (Apprenticeship.gov)
31. Retention challenges identified by the American Institutes for Research include low starting wages, lack of mentoring, and insufficient support services as factors affecting completion rates. (AIR)

Top Manufacturing Apprenticeship Occupations

Manufacturing apprenticeships span dozens of specialized occupations. CNC machinists, maintenance technicians, and tool and die makers are among the most in-demand roles with formal apprenticeship pathways.

32. The top manufacturing apprenticeship occupations include CNC Machinist, Electrical Technician, Maintenance Technician, Mechatronics/Automation Technician, Quality Inspector, Robotics Technician, Tool and Die Maker, and Welder. (Manufacturing Skills Institute)
33. New York State identified the largest manufacturing employment gaps as CNC Machinist, Machinist, Machine Operator, Engineer, Project Manager, and Quality Control. (SUNY)
34. The five occupations with the most active apprentices overall in FY 2021 were Electricians (71,812), Carpenters (29,800), Plumbers (21,971), Sprinkler Fitters (17,595), and Construction Craft Laborers (15,009). Together they accounted for about 25% of all active apprentices. (Camoin Associates)
35. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory operates a California-certified 4-year Machinist Apprenticeship Program offering paid education, hands-on training, and potential permanent employment. (LLNL Engineering)
36. The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) helps manufacturers identify apprenticeship opportunities, develop customized training, and coordinate with local, state, and national training partners. (NIST MEP)

Manufacturing Apprenticeship Data by State

Apprenticeship participation varies significantly by state. Some states have deep apprenticeship traditions rooted in manufacturing, while others are just beginning to build their programs.

37. The District of Columbia leads the nation with 11.1 active apprentices per 1,000 working-age population, followed by Hawaii (6.4), and Indiana and Vermont (both 3.5). (Camoin Associates)
38. DOL's Apprenticeship by State Dashboard covers key statistics from October 2014 through February 2026, allowing state-level trend analysis. (Apprenticeship.gov)
39. The 25 federally-administered state apprenticeship agencies and remaining state-run agencies report data through different systems, making national aggregation challenging. (Data.gov)
40. Illinois provides a nonrefundable tax credit up to $3,500 for tuition, books, and fees per apprentice per year, increased to $5,000 if the business or apprentice meets certain diversity criteria. (Community College Daily)
41. Ohio's MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network) has become a national model for replicating the German apprenticeship approach in American manufacturing, working with Cleveland-area SMEs. (NIST)
42. Washington State's AJAC (Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee) operates manufacturing apprenticeships and workforce training programs across the state for employers, workers, and career starters. (AJAC)
43. New York's Council of Industry runs the New York State Manufacturers Alliance Intermediary Apprenticeship Program (NYSMIAP), helping Hudson Valley manufacturing employers develop skilled workers. (Council of Industry)

Manufacturing Apprenticeship Demographics & Diversity

Apprenticeships have historically skewed heavily male and white, though diversity efforts are showing incremental progress. Understanding the current demographic breakdown is important for any manufacturer building an inclusive workforce pipeline.

44. Apprentices in registered apprenticeships are 56% White (1.6 million), 21% Hispanic (576,000), 10% Black (270,000), 3% Asian (78,000), and 1% Native American (27,000). (DOL Report)
45. Men account for 88% of all apprentices, with women making up just 12%. (DOL Report)
46. Apprentices between ages 25 and 54 comprised 61% of total enrollees, while those under age 24 were another 38%. (DOL Report)
47. More than 231,000 apprentices were military veterans (8% of total). (DOL Report)
48. Minority groups are generally over-represented in apprenticeships relative to their share of the total population. American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and multiracial individuals participate at rates above their population share. (Camoin Associates)
49. White workers are underrepresented in apprenticeships by about 15 percentage points relative to their share of the overall US population. (Camoin Associates)
50. The DOL has published specific guidance for expanding apprenticeship access to underrepresented populations, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. (DOL ETA)

Federal Funding & Incentives for Manufacturing Apprenticeships

Federal and state governments have poured significant funding into expanding apprenticeship programs across the United States, with manufacturing as a priority sector. WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding supports these efforts, and the South Carolina Technical College System has partnered with Apprenticeship Carolina to create a national model. A DOL return on investment study showed a percent return on investment of 44.3% for the median employer, confirming that apprenticeships deliver increased productivity. These investments create opportunities for manufacturers to offset training costs. Even the labor shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 has accelerated adoption.

51. The American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund is a $35.8 million initiative aimed at expanding Registered Apprenticeships within the manufacturing sector, led by Arkansas' Department of Commerce. (Apprenticeship.gov)
52. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act all include provisions for using registered apprenticeships in federally funded projects. (DOL Report)
53. The SBA's "Putting American Manufacturers First" initiative connects small manufacturers with apprenticeship resources and workforce development programs. (SBA)
54. State tax credits for apprenticeship employers range from $3,500 to $5,000+ per apprentice per year in states like Illinois. (Community College Daily)
55. The DOL's Employment and Training Administration provides grants to intermediary organizations that help small and mid-sized manufacturers establish registered apprenticeship programs. (DOL ETA)
56. NIST MEP Centers across the country help small and mid-sized manufacturers develop customized training and apprenticeship programs aligned with local workforce needs. (NIST MEP)

International Apprenticeship Comparisons

The US apprenticeship system, while growing rapidly, remains much smaller than its European counterparts. Germany's dual training system is frequently cited as the gold standard that American manufacturers aspire to replicate.

57. Germany's apprenticeship system involves four major stakeholders working in alignment: the federal government, 16 German states, private partners (employers, vocational schools, labor unions), and chambers of commerce. (NIST)
58. Germany's standardized apprenticeship certification is recognized nationally, allowing workers to transfer skills between employers and regions. NIST recommends American programs consider nationally recognized certifications like NIMS and MSSC. (NIST)
59. In June 2023, representatives from 10 different MEP centers across 11 states traveled to Germany to study the apprenticeship system firsthand, alongside representatives from the DOD and NIST. (American Council on Germany)
60. Roughly 50% of German secondary school graduates enter the dual apprenticeship system, compared to a much smaller fraction in the US. (NIST)
61. The US has roughly 0.3 apprentices per 100 workers compared to Germany's 3.7 per 100 workers, a roughly 12x difference. (NIST)

Job Seeker Interest in Manufacturing Apprenticeships

It's not just employers investing in apprenticeships. Job seekers are actively searching for apprenticeship opportunities at record rates, driven by rising college costs and a tightening labor market.

62. Indeed searches for "apprentice" or "apprenticeship" jobs have more than doubled over the past five years. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
63. Apprenticeship search interest on Indeed increased by over 35% in 2025 alone. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
64. As of March 2025, 449,000 US manufacturing jobs were unfilled, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve. (Manufacturing Skills Institute / Federal Reserve)
65. The growing interest in apprenticeships may be connected to the lackluster labor market of 2025 and major efforts to increase the number and visibility of apprenticeship programs. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
66. The high cost of college tuition and resulting student debt burden has been a key driver of growing apprenticeship popularity. Apprentices earn while they learn and graduate without student loan debt. (Camoin Associates)
67. Comparing apprenticeships with total jobs by industry, Construction has 26.6 active apprentices per 1,000 jobs, followed by Utilities (24.9) and Educational Services (23.8). Manufacturing lags behind but is growing. (Camoin Associates)

Manufacturing Skills Gap & Workforce Projections

The manufacturing skills gap is the underlying force driving apprenticeship growth. Without enough skilled workers in the labor force, manufacturers can't meet production demand, fill orders, or adopt new technologies. Research from the Urban Institute confirms that expanding apprenticeships could address these shortfalls. The American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) has been central to growing programs, and the military apprenticeship program provides additional pathways for veterans entering manufacturing. Apprentices' wages grow significantly during training, making the model attractive for the entire workforce system. Apprenticeship Carolina has become a model state program. Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as the most practical solution.

68. Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute project that 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030 due to the skills gap. (Deloitte)
69. As of March 2025, there were 449,000 open manufacturing jobs in the United States. (Manufacturing Skills Institute)
70. The average age of a US manufacturing worker is 44 years old, and roughly 25% of the manufacturing workforce is over 55, creating an accelerating retirement wave. (BLS Current Population Survey)
71. Apprenticeship programs typically take 2 to 4 years to complete, meaning manufacturers need to start investing now to have trained workers ready for the 2028-2030 retirement surge. (Apprenticeship.gov)
72. The manufacturing sector needs workers with digital skills, robotics knowledge, and data analysis capabilities in addition to traditional machining and fabrication skills. Apprenticeship frameworks are evolving to include these competencies. (NIST MEP)
73. Approximately 28% of US paid workdays are now performed remotely as of early 2026. Manufacturing remains overwhelmingly in-person, making apprenticeship-based, hands-on training even more critical. (Qureos / Stanford WFH Research)

Types of Manufacturing Apprenticeship Programs

Not all apprenticeships are structured the same way. Pre-apprenticeship programs serve as a pipeline, helping workers build foundational skills before entering a full registered program. Apprenticeship could take several forms depending on company size and industry needs. Understanding the different program types helps manufacturers choose the right model for their workforce needs.

74. Registered apprenticeships use three training models: time-based, competency-based, and hybrid. Hybrid programs combine minimum time requirements with competency benchmarks. (Apprenticeship.gov)
75. Time-based programs require a minimum number of on-the-job training hours (typically 2,000 hours per year for a 4-year program). (Apprenticeship.gov)
76. Competency-based programs allow apprentices to advance as they demonstrate mastery of specific skills, potentially completing faster than time-based programs. (Apprenticeship.gov)
77. The DOL offers competency-based occupational frameworks specifically designed for advanced manufacturing occupations. (Apprenticeship.gov)
78. Manufacturing industry competency models are maintained by CareerOneStop, a DOL-sponsored resource that maps the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for manufacturing occupations. (CareerOneStop)

Apprenticeship Enrollment by Industry

While construction dominates apprenticeship numbers, manufacturing is the fourth-largest sector and growing rapidly. Here's how the major industries compare.

79. Construction remains the largest apprenticeship industry with over 1.1 million enrollments from 2019-2022, accounting for roughly 39% of all apprentices. (DOL Report)
80. Manufacturing's share of total apprenticeships is approximately 5.5%, but growing at a faster rate than most other sectors. (DOL Report)
81. From 2019 to 2022, there were 2.8 million total participants in registered apprenticeship programs across all industries. (Community College Daily)

Manufacturing Apprenticeship Training Costs

Understanding the true cost of running an apprenticeship program helps manufacturers budget appropriately and take advantage of available incentives to offset expenses.

82. The typical cost to train a manufacturing apprentice ranges from $25,000 to $250,000 over the full program length, depending on occupation complexity and program duration. (DOL ROI Report)
83. Employers recover their investment through apprentice productivity. The median employer breaks even before the apprentice completes the program. (DOL ROI Report)
84. Apprentices graduate with zero student loan debt, compared to the average college graduate who carries $37,000+ in student loans. (Camoin Associates)
85. The typical 4-year machinist apprenticeship includes 8,000+ hours of on-the-job training and 576+ hours of related technical instruction. (LLNL)
86. State tax credits can offset $3,500 to $5,000+ per apprentice annually, reducing the net cost of apprenticeship programs significantly. (Community College Daily)

Future Outlook for Manufacturing Apprenticeships

87. The CHIPS and Science Act is expected to drive significant demand for semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships as new fabrication facilities come online across the US. (DOL Report)
88. Apprenticeship frameworks are evolving to include digital manufacturing skills such as robotics programming, additive manufacturing, IoT sensor management, and data analytics. (NIST MEP)
89. The DOL anticipates that recent federal legislation will sustain strong apprenticeship growth through at least 2030, particularly in manufacturing, clean energy, and infrastructure. (DOL Report)
90. Indeed data shows job seeker interest in apprenticeships is accelerating, not plateauing, suggesting continued growth in both supply and demand. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
91. The $35.8 million American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund will provide additional resources for expanding registered apprenticeships nationwide. (Apprenticeship.gov)
92. Community colleges are playing an increasingly central role in manufacturing apprenticeship programs, providing the related technical instruction component while employers handle on-the-job training. (Community College Daily)