Bill Overview
Title: Training America’s Workforce Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a process to identify industry-recognized apprenticeship programs for purposes of the National Apprenticeship Act.
Sponsors: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Target Audience
Population: People seeking apprenticeships and industries utilizing apprenticeship programs
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The National Apprenticeship Act impacts millions of workers and prospective workers in the United States.
- Apprenticeship programs are key for skill development in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
- The bill impacts people seeking apprenticeship opportunities as well as businesses looking to hire skilled workers through these programs.
- There are an estimated 700,000 registered apprentices in the United States.
- The global workforce potentially interested in similar apprenticeship models could also be considered for global impact.
Reasoning
- Apprenticeship programs are primarily aimed at individuals entering trades that require hands-on training.
- Industries like construction and manufacturing will mostly reflect the outcomes of such initiatives.
- With a fixed budget, the program size restricts coverage mainly to the larger states with robust apprenticeship networks.
- The impact on individuals will vary based on their current socio-economic status and their ability to access apprenticeship programs.
- People already in stable employment or careers unlikely to be influenced by apprenticeship programs (e.g., office workers, high-level professionals) exhibit no or minimal change in wellbeing.
- Budget constraints mean that not all interested individuals will receive the full benefit, capping the utility of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
High school graduate (Detroit, MI)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am really interested in finding a stable career path, and I have heard that apprenticeships in manufacturing are a good way to start.
- If this policy means more opportunities for people like me, I am all in!
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Construction worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve been working construction for over 10 years now. I think a formal apprenticeship could help me move up.
- The right program could really help me secure a better future for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Registered Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think healthcare apprenticeships might be helpful for new people entering the field, but not much will change for me personally.
- The bill sounds good for expanding training, but I am not directly affected.
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 |
Unemployed (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m struggling to find work with my degree right now.
- If this policy can open doors for apprenticeships in IT, it would be huge for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Electrician (Topeka, KS)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this is great for apprentices just starting out, but I am nearing retirement and don't expect much change for me.
- The policy should focus on younger generations.
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 |
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tech apprenticeships could be an interesting way to learn more and climb the ranks faster.
- I’m hopeful this will increase opportunities, especially for leadership skills in tech.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Barista (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am not sure if these apprenticeships apply to the hospitality field, but structured learning always seems helpful.
- The policy might be more effective if it applied to a wider array of industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student, Computer Science Major (Boston, MA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a student, an apprenticeship would help supplement my learning with hands-on experience.
- The policy definitely makes me optimistic about my career prospects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Project Manager (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could streamline training for new employees, but likely won't change much for folks at my stage.
- Happy to see the industry get more structured training though.
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 |
Nurse Aide (Denver, CO)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If apprenticeships in healthcare become more common, it could help me advance to a registered nurse position.
- This is definitely a step in the right direction for healthcare training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $80000000)
Year 3: $65000000 (Low: $55000000, High: $85000000)
Year 5: $70000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $75000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $95000000)
Year 100: $80000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $100000000)
Key Considerations
- Establishing industry-recognized programs can adapt to changing industry needs, ensuring long-term relevance.
- The success of this act would require collaboration between the government, industries, and educational institutions.
- Initial costs are significant, but the long-term benefits could outweigh these initial investments.