US Labor and Education Departments host roundtable on degree-connected apprenticeships
Updated
Updated · US Department of Labor · May 4
US Labor and Education Departments host roundtable on degree-connected apprenticeships
3 articles · Updated · US Department of Labor · May 4
At an April 30 closed-door event in Washington, officials including Henry Mack, Nicholas Kent and Nick Moore met college and workforce leaders during National Apprenticeship Week 2026.
The departments said degree-connected Registered Apprenticeships let students earn wages, credits and credentials while helping employers fill jobs, and pledged interagency action to scale the model.
The discussion aligns with the Trump administration's reindustrialization agenda and goal of surpassing one million active apprentices nationwide while linking education and workforce systems more closely.
Beyond government fanfare, what are the real-world hurdles for businesses trying to build these ambitious new apprenticeship programs?
Will 'earn-and-learn' apprenticeships become the new debt-free path to a career, replacing the traditional four-year college degree?
With billions in new funding, is America's education system being redesigned to prioritize corporate needs over academic learning?