Report: A Record Number of Wisconsinites are Taking Apprenticeships in Trades
Participation in Wisconsin apprenticeships is at a record high, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
In 2024, 17,509 people participated in the state Department of Workforce Development’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, up from 9,872 people in 2013. The program offers apprenticeships in about 200 occupations.
Participation was also up for the state’s youth apprenticeship program, designed to give high schoolers one or two years’ coursework and paid work experience, similar to the adult program. In the 2025 fiscal year, the number of high schoolers involved was 11,357, more than double the count of 5,104 in 2019.
“We are seeing increasing participation,” said Joe Peterangelo, research director at the Wisconsin Policy Forum. “But given the demand, there are still opportunities to expand what we have across the state and across different industries.”
The rise in apprentices is good news for industries reporting a shortage of workers, such as construction, manufacturing and health care, the report noted.
