Bill Overview
Title: Diversifying Paths to Apprenticeships Act
Description: This bill incorporates preparation for apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs into the federal workforce development programs that provide adult education and English literacy and civics education.
Sponsors: Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals seeking adult education, particularly for apprenticeships and literacy
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill focuses on expanding access to apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs through adult education and literacy services.
- The target population includes adults seeking workforce skills, potentially those with lesser economic opportunities.
- Individuals in need of English literacy and civics education are specifically mentioned as a focus, indicating immigrants or non-native speakers may comprise a significant portion of the affected group.
- Apprenticeships are often accessible for those transitioning into the workforce or looking to enhance their vocational skills, impacting a broad socioeconomic range of adults.
- The bill's incorporation into federal programs suggests a wide-reaching implementation across the U.S.
Reasoning
- The policy's focus on apprenticeship preparation and literacy services means those in need of improved workforce skills, including non-native speakers, will likely be the most impacted.
- Given the budget and potential reach of the programs, a significant yet segmental portion of the population will experience direct benefits, especially those previously lacking access to such programs.
- The simulation includes a wide range of demographics to reflect varying degrees of impact, from those directly benefiting to those indirectly affected or unaffected.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this new policy would really help people like me who want to improve their English and get better job training.
- Apprenticeships could open doors for jobs I couldn't get otherwise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this makes some good training available for people in construction.
- Higher skills could mean better pay and more job security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Homemaker (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone who hasn't worked in a long time, any help with skills or training is good news.
- I want to contribute to my household financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Unemployed (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In my town, there aren't many opportunities. Programs like these could change that, if we get them here.
- Education and job training are steps to a better future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Small Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this policy isn't directly for me, having a more skilled workforce could help my business grow.
- Providing apprenticeships might make hiring less of a gamble.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
English Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced literacy and apprenticeship programs align with my work and could boost community progress.
- It's great to see policies that provide concrete pathways for skill improvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
IT Support Specialist (Miami, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm unsure how much these programs would help people already in tech, but any skill improvement is good.
- Diverse apprenticeship paths could help the tech industry as a whole.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Chef (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would be excellent if apprenticeship options were available in culinary arts; it helped me a lot.
- Support for career transition is vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds like it could be really useful for students like me who aren't ready to go to college.
- Having a direct path to work through apprenticeships is encouraging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support policies that improve job skills and education for the younger generation.
- While I'm retired, I hope these efforts make communities more sustainable and thriving.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $102000000 (Low: $82000000, High: $123000000)
Year 3: $104040000 (Low: $84000000, High: $125460000)
Year 5: $110408160 (Low: $89000000, High: $133049880)
Year 10: $121899730 (Low: $98000000, High: $146319869)
Year 100: $449708568 (Low: $361100000, High: $539650420)
Key Considerations
- Initial program setup and training are costly but necessary to implement the policy effectively.
- The social benefits of increased workforce participation and reduced unemployment might not be immediately quantifiable.
- The effectiveness of integrating these programs depends significantly on the coordination between federal agencies and local institutions.