Earn-and-learn programs, including apprenticeships and internships, offer dual advantages for workers and employers, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
The report emphasizes that such models—apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, internships, and work-study programs—enable participants to earn wages while gaining hands-on experience and occupation-specific skills. Workers benefit through higher wages, reduced or zero student debt, and credentials that enhance employability. Employers, in turn, see gains in employee retention and their ability to address skills shortages.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), which combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training and mentorship, stand out as a key example. In FY 2024 alone, over 940,000 workers took part in RAPs across vital sectors like healthcare, construction, technology, and manufacturing. Many of these roles are both high-wage and high-growth, with six of the top ten apprenticeship roles projected to outpace average job growth through 2033.
Despite their benefits, employers flagged several challenges, including limited awareness, administrative complexities, and program costs. In response, federal agencies—specifically the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, Labor, and Veterans Affairs—have initiated supportive measures. The Department of Labor, for example, partners with industry intermediaries to act as RAP sponsors, helping reduce administrative load on individual employers.
GAO identified 26 existing federal programs that support earn-and-learn initiatives and encouraged continued expansion to address workforce gaps across critical industries.
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Source: Hrdive.com
