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Apprentices receive on average about 2% of the support that taxpayers spend on a typical college student. It’s time that changes, this advocate says.
BY DR. ROBERT LERMAN
The massive omnibus funding bill passed by Congress in the waning days of 2022 included a provision that should’ve excited business leaders and policymakers across the country: Federal lawmakers increased funding for apprenticeships by $50 million for a grand total of $285 million.
At a time of growing skepticism around the cost and value of college, and as state leaders in Utah to Pennsylvania remove degree requirements from state job postings, there is growing momentum for widening the range of education and training models to incorporate apprenticeships, a strategy that promises faster and more affordable routes to well-paying and rewarding careers.
It would seem that added investment in apprenticeships is exactly what the country needs. So, why isn’t everyone cheering?
