THE FOLLOW UP
Jan 28, 2026 · dol.gov
Operational Updates

Department of Labor schedules National Apprenticeship Week 2026 for April 26–May 2

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Key takeaways

  • National Apprenticeship Week 2026 is scheduled for April 26–May 2 and moves the observance to spring.
  • The theme is “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again Through Registered Apprenticeship.”
  • Events will take place across all 50 states and U.S. territories and target industries like skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, AI, and nuclear energy.
  • The department links the week to presidential executive orders on workforce priorities and says over 363,000 new individuals have started apprenticeships since the start of the Trump administration.
  • DOL reiterates its goal of reaching 1 million apprentices and encourages employers, educators, unions, state agencies, and others to host and participate in events.
  • Event listings and participation information are available at apprenticeship.gov/national-apprenticeship-week.

Follow Up Questions

What is a Registered Apprenticeship and how does it differ from other training or internship programs?Expand

Registered Apprenticeship is a DOL- or state‑validated, employer‑led paid job training program combining structured on‑the‑job learning with classroom instruction, progressive wage increases, mentorship, and a portable, industry‑recognized credential. It differs from typical internships/training by being longer-term, industry‑vetted, job‑based (paid), subject to quality standards and registration, and designed to lead to a credential and career pathway; internships are usually shorter, less structured, often not registered or credentialed, and may be unpaid.

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Which office within the Department of Labor manages the Registered Apprenticeship program and who oversees it?Expand

The Registered Apprenticeship system is managed by the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the U.S. Department of Labor. OA is led by an Administrator (OA national office lists Megan Baird as Acting Administrator); OA reports through ETA leadership to the Secretary of Labor.

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What does the Department of Labor mean by its goal of “1 million apprentices”—is that a current active-apprentices target or a cumulative number?Expand

DOL’s “1 million apprentices” goal refers to the number of active apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship at a point in time (an active‑apprentice target), not a cumulative lifetime total of participants.

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The release says over 363,000 new individuals have started apprenticeships since the beginning of the Trump administration—what time period and data source does that figure cover?Expand

The figure “over 363,000 new individuals” cited by the release refers to new apprenticeship starts recorded since the beginning of the Trump Administration (January 2017) through the DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship data series; DOL/Apprenticeship.gov data and DOL news releases are the source for this cumulative starts figure (DOL release cites its apprenticeship data).

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How can employers, educators, unions, or state agencies register events or otherwise participate in National Apprenticeship Week?Expand

Organizations can register events and participate in National Apprenticeship Week by using the National Apprenticeship Week page on Apprenticeship.gov (listing how to host events, sign up, and list events) and by contacting the Office of Apprenticeship (apprenticeship@dol.gov) for technical assistance.

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What do the referenced presidential executive orders require and how will they affect funding, standards, or expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs?Expand

The referenced presidential executive orders direct federal agencies to prioritize workforce development and expand Registered Apprenticeship by using federal contracting, grant, technical assistance, and interagency coordination; they generally encourage expansion and alignment of standards but do not by themselves create new mandatory funding streams—implementation depends on agency actions, rulemaking, and budget appropriations described in DOL guidance and related Federal Register rulemaking.

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