Bill Overview
Title: American Apprenticeship Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to make grants to assist states in carrying out projects that defray the cost of instruction associated with pre-apprenticeship and qualified apprenticeship programs. Labor shall (1) establish performance measures and an evaluation system for such grant program; and (2) identify in-demand occupations that lack the use of apprenticeships, analyze the use of the qualified apprenticeship program model in those occupations, and report on such analysis to states and Congress.
Sponsors: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or planning to join apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill focuses on enhancing apprenticeship programs across the United States, suggesting its impact is primarily domestic rather than international.
- Apprenticeship programs historically support individuals entering the workforce or those seeking to enhance their skills, suggesting young people, career changers, and people entering the workforce will be directly impacted.
- Employers and industries in the US that rely on apprenticeships, particularly in in-demand fields identified by the Department of Labor, would also be affected.
- The focus on defraying the cost of instruction implies that both educational providers and participants will benefit from reduced educational costs.
Reasoning
- Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs target a wide demographic, including young people entering the workforce and adults considering career changes.
- The financial support to defray costs will directly benefit participants who may otherwise face financial barriers to enter such programs.
- The policy is likely to have varying impacts based on geographical areas, depending on local industries' reliance on apprenticeships.
- Budget constraints mean that not all states or participants can benefit equally, focusing resources on key in-demand occupations.
- The policy's success is tied to the effectiveness of identifying high-demand occupations and efficiently managing grant funds to maximize reach.
- While industries involved in the initiative will welcome skilled apprentices, other fields may remain unaffected if they don't use apprentice models.
Simulated Interviews
High School Graduate (California)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the apprenticeship programs could be a great way to get into a career without the high costs of college.
- If the program offers support in my area, it will help me a lot because we don't have many technical schools nearby.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Electrician Apprentice (Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am barely managing to pay for my apprenticeship tools and classes.
- Any kind of financial help through this program will take a big load off my shoulders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am interested in moving into a tech field, but the costs of training programs are intimidating.
- This policy might make it feasible for me to take up an apprenticeship in a tech-related role.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Iowa)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I could really use some help in finding skilled workers.
- If this policy helps in training apprentices, it would also benefit my business in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Dropout (Florida)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The costs of completing my education were too high; an apprenticeship might be a viable alternative.
- I hope this program can reduce some of the barriers I'm facing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Michigan)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe mentoring apprentices could bring new perspectives to our team.
- The policy will help bring more skilled individuals into our workplace.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Nebraska)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The apprentices I mentor could benefit if costs were defrayed, making them more willing to persist.
- It would be nice to see more varied backgrounds in these programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
HR Manager (Ohio)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to well-trained apprentices could enhance our outreach and recruitment.
- The policy expands options for hiring future employees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Aspiring Chef (North Carolina)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Culinary schools are too expensive for me right now.
- If this policy applies to culinary apprenticeships, it could make a difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Nevada)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s tough to pay for specialized training with my current salary.
- This initiative might help me specialize and earn more.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 3: $13000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $18000000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $17000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The scalability of grants across multiple states will affect the overall federal aid expenditure.
- Performance metrics and evaluation systems must be robust to ensure effective use of funds and achieve desired outcomes.
- Coordination with state and local education programs is crucial to the success of the apprenticeships.
- Potential resistance from non-apprenticeship industries could necessitate broad stakeholder engagement.