3 minute read
Build Your Workforce Through Apprenticeships
With record-low unemployment, more Delaware employers are turning to apprenticeship to develop talent
BY JONATHAN PAYNE, PH.D.
IN TODAY’S TIGHT LABOR MARKET, Delaware employers face a critical challenge: finding skilled talent at sustainable wages. While many businesses struggle to recruit talent from an increasingly competitive market, forward-thinking employers are choosing to “build” their workforce through registered apprenticeship programs.
The evidence for apprenticeships’ effectiveness is compelling. Nationally, employers see an average return of nearly $1.50 for every dollar invested in apprenticeship programs, with retention rates exceeding 90%. The benefits extend beyond direct training outcomes: Businesses report improved workplace culture, enhanced employee loyalty, and access to various incentives, such as tax benefits.
Delaware is emerging as a leader in this space, particularly in youth apprenticeship. As part of the state’s ongoing commitment to expanding apprenticeship opportunities, Governor Matthew Meyer recently signed Executive Order #1, which directs state agencies to prioritize the development of youth apprenticeship programs across the state. This builds on Delaware’s recent success in youth apprenticeship, where more than 750 young people entered programs between 2020-2024.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) showcases how state agencies are embracing this model. Here at Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit that transforms education and workforce systems, we partnered with DNREC and Delaware’s vocational-technical school districts as they established a building maintenance generalist apprenticeship program. This included facilitating the registration of their apprenticeship program from start to finish—from developing the on-the-job learning and the accompanying classroom instruction to helping them set the wage scale. Today, this innovative program prepares apprentices for careers maintaining Delaware’s 17 state parks.
This model has also seen similar success in Delaware’s private sector across many industries, including the construction trades, manufacturing, hospitality, and more.
Ready to start your own apprenticeship program? Here are the key steps:
Assess your needs: Identify positions that are consistently hard to fill or require significant training investment. These roles often make excellent apprenticeship opportunities.
Research existing programs: Visit apprenticeship.gov to explore more than 1,000 registered occupations. These pre-approved programs offer flexible frameworks that can be customized up to 20% to meet your specific needs.
Plan your training: Delaware’s vocational-technical school districts provide related technical instruction for more than 60% of apprenticeships in the state. Consider partnering with these established providers for classroom training.
Design your program: Determine whether you’ll recruit internally to develop existing employees or externally to bring in new talent. Remember, successful apprentices often show grit and eagerness to learn rather than existing technical skills.
Get support: The Delaware Department of Labor’s State Apprenticeship Agency offers guidance throughout the process, from program design to registration.
By investing in apprenticeship programs, Delaware employers can cultivate a skilled, loyal workforce while strengthening their industries for the future. With the right strategy and support, apprenticeship can be a game-changer for both employers and job seekers alike. Ready to learn more? Contact the Delaware Department of Labor State Apprenticeship Agency at de.gov/apprenticeship
Jonathan Payne, Ph.D., is a director in the Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning at Jobs for the Future (JFF), a nonprofit that drives transformation of education and workforce systems to help people secure quality jobs.
