During the State Board of Community Colleges Programs and Student Success Committee meeting July 18, ApprenticeshipNC (ANC), the State Apprenticeship Agency housed under the North Carolina Community College System, reported that North Carolina saw a 45% increase in Registered Apprentice enrollments and a 50% increase in Registered Pre-Apprentice enrollments during the 2023-2024 state fiscal year.
ANC registered 4,990 apprentices and 1,774 pre-apprentices in various programs between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. The State Apprenticeship Agency also registered 147 new apprenticeship programs and 19 new pre-apprenticeship programs. Throughout the fiscal year, ApprenticeshipNC served a total of 15,090 apprentices, 2,701 employers and 872 sponsors.
While emphasizing the agency’s accomplishments, ANC Director Dr. Chris Harrington said, “This past year has been remarkable for ApprenticeshipNC thanks to the exceptional performance of our team and the strategic partnerships they have forged. Through their hard work and collaboration, they have created opportunities for numerous individuals to embark on meaningful career paths. At the same time, they have strengthened our local businesses and economy by providing a steady stream of skilled talent.”
Registered Apprenticeship is an employer-driven workforce development model where apprentices receive structured on-the-job learning, supplemental education, and a progressive wage scale. ApprenticeshipNC is recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship to act on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor to register and oversee apprenticeship programs.
John Loyack, vice president of economic development, North Carolina Community College System, stressed Registered Apprenticeship is vital to workforce and economic development in the state saying, “Apprenticeships are not just a pathway to skilled trades but a vital cornerstone for diverse occupations across all industries. They bridge the gap between education and employment — fostering a workforce that is adaptable, skilled and ready to meet the evolving demands of the modern North Carolina economy.”
ANC works with employers, educators, industry and workforce intermediaries to register apprenticeship programs that meet workforce needs across North Carolina. ApprenticeshipNC made progress in apprentice registration during the fiscal year in high demand occupation fields with 806 pre-apprentices and apprentices registered in healthcare occupations, 364 in early childhood education occupations, 259 in the Information Technology (IT) occupations, and 1,075 in the skilled trades.
North Carolina’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs have received both state-wide and national recognition. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson welcomed the winners of the 2023, N.C. State Fair Apprentice Contests to his office on Dec. 7, 2023, to congratulate them on their achievements and emphasize the importance of apprenticeship in the skilled trades. Gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein visited Forge Greensboro Feb. 1 to learn about the workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities available through the makerspace. More recently, Gov. Roy Cooper highlighted the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (S.E.E.D) Summer Apprenticeship Academy during a visit to Wayne Community College July 10.
Congressman Don Davis also honored Nash Community College’s Electric Vehicle Pre-Apprenticeship Program on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives July 10. The program was previously recognized by President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden when they visited Nash Community College June 9, 2023.
ApprenticeshipNC aims to elevate and expand Registered Apprenticeship and Registered Pre-Apprenticeship even more during the 2024-2025 fiscal year with a goal of registering 5,500 new apprentices, 1,930 new pre-apprentices, 160 new apprenticeship programs, and 30 new pre-apprenticeship programs.