An anecdote to the cost of living crisis? Registered apprenticeship

National Apprenticeship Week raises awareness of a time-tested pathway to a good, union job in many industries

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 27, 2026) — American workers don’t have a rosy-eyed view of the current economy, and with good reason. Prices we pay everyday have shot up. Meanwhile, the hiring market is tough for new workers — even college grads, with a degree in hand that conventional wisdom once said was the key to a good job — and switching between careers is a tall order for established workers, even as firings and upheaval rock once-booming industries like tech. But there is one tried-and-true pathway into a stable career with the protection of a union contract (with healthcare benefits and over 11% higher earnings, on average): registered, union apprenticeships.

Today kicks off National Apprenticeship Week, an annual event raising awareness of the possibilities apprenticeship offers. Apprenticeship programs combine on the job learning with classroom instruction, providing a holistic education for workers. Registered apprenticeship programs are partnerships between unions and emplyoer organizations, typically funded through collectively bargained contributions to training funds, and registered with government agencies. These are the gold-standard in job training.

In a video celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler drove home the power of registered apprenticeship in this economy:

“There are so many workers out there right now, young workers especially, who are trying to make it in this economy, working two or three jobs, seeing everything in your life get more expensive…working harder than you ever have but your paycheck doesn’t go as far as it used to. The answer is a good union job. A good union job means stability through a union contract. It means more money, the chance to build a career that changes your life and the future of your entire family. And it all starts with registered apprenticeship programs.

“Instead of taking on student debt, you earn while you learn, bringing in a paycheck that can support you and your family right now. That opportunity should belong to everyone.”

Apprenticeship opportunities aren’t limited solely to building and construction trades. Unions like the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Seafarers International Union and Communications Workers of America also offer programs (the AFL-CIO website hosts an expansive list).

In Washington state, International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751 started the Machinist Institute, which both provides training to current IAM members and brings in new workers interested in a career in aerospace, automotive, or manufacturing. The Machinist Institute also offers robust pre-apprenticeship programs for students, preparing the next generation for entry into the workforce.

Other Washington local unions and employers have partnered on training programs in diverse industries that build on a traditional apprenticeship model. UNITE HERE Local 8 partnered with more than a dozen local hospitality employers for the PNW Hospitality Training Program, which provides ongoing training to current union members and helps skill-up more workers for good union jobs with participating employers. WeTrain Washington is a partnership between UFCW Local 3000 and grocery employers, offering b0th pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities. And the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund helps expand healthcare job opportunities and build up this crucial workforce in the state.