An Overview of Registered Apprenticeships in Tennessee
July 2024
Author: Matthew Veach
In recent years, states, including Tennessee, have explored many strategies to address labor market challenges. Apprenticeships are one of those strategies and have become a popular policy topic. This OREA report provides an overview of registered apprenticeships in Tennessee – what they are, how they work, and how many individuals participate in them.
Registered apprenticeships are a work-based learning model (certified by the U.S. Department of Labor) that combines supervised on-the-job training, paid work experience, classroom instruction, and mentorship. This model allows apprentices to obtain formal training in a desired occupation while receiving work experience and pay from an employer. The Tennessee Office of Apprenticeship (TOA), part of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, oversees and assists apprenticeship programs in the state. TOA is a part of Apprenticeship TN, a marketing initiative launched in 2020 to raise awareness of registered apprenticeship opportunities for employers and workers in every area of Tennessee.
Conclusions
OREA drew several conclusions about registered apprenticeships in Tennessee:
- Total active registered apprentices have almost doubled since 2014, with especially rapid growth seen in recent years. Wages paid to apprentices also grew over this period.
- There are opportunities to develop other calculations of apprenticeship program performance, collect additional data, and evaluate outcomes.
- Additional conclusions can be found in the full report.
Policy option
The Tennessee Office of Apprenticeship could develop other calculations of apprenticeship program performance, collect additional data, and enhance the evaluation of apprenticeship programs.