State’s Apprenticeship Program Achieves Record Growth, Faces Uncertain Funding Future

The State Board of the North Carolina Community College System approved the 2024–2025 ApprenticeshipNC Annual Report at its September 19 meeting, highlighting the program’s vital role within the state’s broader workforce development network. Operated through the North Carolina Community College System, ApprenticeshipNC connects education and industry through hands-on training and Registered Apprenticeships that strengthen North Carolina’s talent pipeline. The report celebrates record growth in apprenticeship participation while cautioning that continued momentum is at risk due to expiring federal grant funds. 

ApprenticeshipNC leads the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship across the state. Covering the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the report reaffirms that apprenticeship remains the gold standard in work-based learning—delivering unmatched value to workers, employers, and taxpayers alike. 

“The ApprenticeshipNC program serves as a vital cornerstone for our state’s economy, bridging the gap between education and employment. It has experienced remarkable growth, fueled by the understanding that a skilled, adaptable, and efficient workforce isn’t just a goal—it’s the competitive advantage of North Carolina,” said John Loyack, Vice President of Economic Development at the System. 

The report highlights powerful returns on investment across the board: 

• For individuals: Graduates of Registered Apprenticeship Programs earn about $10,000 more per year than non-completers—a lifetime wage premium of roughly $400,000. 
• For employers: Companies see average returns ranging from 47% to more than 100%, with many retaining 90% of completers five years later. 
• For the public: Registered Apprenticeships generate the highest ROI of any workforce or education intervention. 

ApprenticeshipNC’s growth in 2024–2025 was significant: 

• 16,446 total apprentices served 
• 5,241 new enrollments 
• 3,686 completions, with a 69% completion rate 
• 3,224 employers engaged, including 1,862 in group programs 

Growth was especially notable in Construction and Extraction Occupations (+95% year-over-year) and in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (+14%). 

The report also cautions that much of this success has been fueled by federal U.S. Department of Labor grants. Current funding—covering 65% of ApprenticeshipNC operations—expires in June 2026. Without new investment, the program could lose 18 technical experts as well as its marketing and communications capacity, crippling its ability to expand. 

“This momentum is at risk,” said Dr. Chris Harrington, State Director of ApprenticeshipNC.

ApprenticeshipNC’s vision is to double the number of apprentices and pre-apprentices across North Carolina. To sustain this trajectory, the report calls for a recurring state investment of $3.1 million annually. 

“The return on investment in Registered Apprenticeships is clear – for participants, for employers, and for public funding. We have demonstrated what is possible using grant money to fuel our growth,” Harrington said. “Now is the time to allocate state resources and continue our trajectory.”   

That investment would generate powerful returns: 

• More than $251 million in future state tax revenue 
• An estimated 52,000 completers by 2034, producing $2.15 billion in additional wages and $268.8 million in incremental tax revenue 
• A projected ROI of 478% 

Without funding, active participation could decline by more than half, falling from 10,255 in 2025 to just 4,000 by 2034. 

To achieve its vision, ApprenticeshipNC identified five strategic pillars:  

• Securing sustainable funding; 
• Strengthening local ecosystems; 
• Expanding communities of practice; 
• Improving system structure and predictability and;  
• Raising awareness of apprenticeship value across the state. 

As North Carolina works to strengthen its talent pipeline and meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy, ApprenticeshipNC stands as a proven model for connecting education and employment. With record growth, clear returns on investment, and a bold vision for expansion, the program is positioned to play a central role in preparing the state’s future workforce—provided sustainable funding is secured to carry this momentum forward. 

To learn more about ApprenticeshipNC, visit nccommunitycolleges.edu/businesses/apprenticeships.