Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) celebrated “National Apprenticeship Day” and 2025 the Year of the Kid by announcing that for the fourth year in a row, Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program set a new record high. During the 2024-25 school year, 11,344 youth apprentices enrolled — a 14% increase from the prior year.
Youth Apprenticeship is a one- or two-year earn-while-you-learn program for high school juniors and seniors pairing work and related classroom instruction in a chosen occupation. This program implements a dual training system that combines skills obtained on the job site with technical knowledge in the classroom. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to offer a Youth Apprenticeship program in 1991.
In addition to record-high enrollment, the Youth Apprenticeship program in 2024-25 partnered with a record 7,447 employers, and more than 99% of Wisconsin’s 421 public school districts with a high school had students enrolled in the program.
Youth Apprenticeship pathways with the highest participation this school year included:
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Health science — 2,089;
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Manufacturing — 1,510;
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Marketing — 1,415;
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Architecture and construction — 1,409; and
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Agriculture, food and natural resources — 1,303.
To learn more about Wisconsin Apprenticeship, click here.
