By John A. Burtka and Brent Parton
In recent debates about the merits and pitfalls of the H1-B visa program, one fact about the American workforce consistently gets left out. Our nation's future depends on its most precious asset: our youth. Yet for too long, we've clung to the outdated notion that the only viable path to success runs through a four-year college degree. The hard truth is that about a third of college students drop out annually. Our single-path mindset has left countless young Americans burdened by debt, struggling to balance learning and work, and far too often underprepared for the demands of the modern workforce.
It's time to chart a bold, new course—one that emphasizes the dignity of work and leverages the dynamism of American innovation. The answer lies in youth apprenticeships.
Youth apprenticeships represent a time-tested model that integrates education and work, equipping young Americans with the skills and independence they need to thrive. By combining rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on training, these programs offer a clear, debt-free pathway to success in high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, energy, and finance.
Apprenticeships are a proven model not only for employment but for prosperous careers. Youth apprenticeships are the backbone of the Swiss education system, for example, propelling the small country to global leadership in manufacturing and innovation. Recently, education secretary-designate Linda McMahon captured this vision, posting on social media that "Apprenticeship Programs are a pathway to successful careers. Switzerland provides a model the rest of the world can ad[o]pt. They employ Apprentices in 230 Occupations and most of their CEOs were Apprentices."
States across the country are proving that apprenticeships are possible here at home, too. In more than 20 states, apprenticeship programs have generated more than $95 million in earned wages for young people, setting them up for a lifetime of opportunities. Bold leadership from both the public and private sector can bring these pockets of innovation to scale and can ensure that the United States has the most competitive workforce in the world.
Here is where to start: First, build upon the growing bipartisan support for apprenticeships. Congress' active bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act rightly prioritize work-based learning and apprenticeship, and reflect a growing bipartisan consensus: If America is to remain competitive in an era of rapid technological change, we must invest in new pathways that prepare our workforce to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Col.) and former senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), whose states are leading the way on youth apprenticeship, introduced the Youth Apprenticeship Advancement Act to establish a first-of-its-kind youth apprenticeship grant program.
Second, engage industry to build more youth apprenticeships at scale. For employers, the benefits of youth apprenticeship are compelling. Such programs create a reliable pipeline of well-trained talent tailored to meet industry needs and foster innovation and competitiveness. We need to connect more youth to apprenticeships in the trades, where they already exist, while working with employers to expand apprenticeships in new industries. Rather than working with one employer at a time, we should bring together a broad base of leaders across manufacturing, health care, energy, and technology to create industry-led blueprints across the country.
Third, this is an opportune moment to shift the focus in high schools to emphasize apprenticeships and career readiness programs. For too long, our public high schools have primarily focused on the college track. Critics may argue that apprenticeships are outdated or that they prioritize technical skills at the expense of a broader education. But this objection misses the mark.
Youth apprenticeships don't replace traditional education; they enhance it. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application, these programs produce well-rounded individuals who are not only technically proficient but also adaptable and innovative—qualities that are essential in a rapidly changing global economy.
To unlock our incredible reserve of human potential, Congress and the incoming Trump administration can take decisive action by bringing stakeholders to the table around a shared vision for youth apprenticeship. The Departments of Education and Labor should prioritize funding for such initiatives. This isn't just good policy; it's an economic and moral imperative for what we offer the next generation to honor the dignity of work, restore independence to families, and ensure that America remains the preeminent cultural, political, and technological powerhouse of the 21st century.
John A. Burtka IV is President & CEO of Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Brent Parton is President of CareerWise.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
English (US) ·