When Alabama joined the Apprenticeship America cohort of the federally funded Future Ready Apprenticeship Center, it brought with it something rare in workforce development: genuine momentum backed by real investment. The state has already built one of the strongest registered apprenticeship foundations in the Southeast — and now it’s setting its sights on reaching the young people who haven’t yet been part of the story.

Meredith Smith, Director of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, captured the state’s spirit: “”Alabama is eager to join the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center as it builds on our strong workforce efforts—expanding apprenticeships, strengthening education–industry partnerships, and creating clear career pathways, especially for youth. This support will help us scale faster, align with high-demand industries, and advance our long-term goals. As part of a 10-state cohort, we’ll also gain valuable insights, share successes, and adopt proven strategies to drive stronger outcomes for our employers, students, and communities.”

A Foundation Built on Industry Strength

Alabama’s apprenticeship ecosystem has standout credentials. The state ranks among the top three nationally for degree apprenticeships, with all of its community colleges actively engaged in registered apprenticeship programs. Employers in manufacturing and construction have long-standing relationships with training providers, and the Alabama Community College System has made work-based learning a central pillar of its mission. The state has also secured a WIOA waiver allowing in-school youth to access Individual Training Accounts for registered apprenticeship programs — a policy move that signals how seriously Alabama’s leaders take the connection between education and workforce.

Financially, the state backs that commitment up. Alabama currently provides $1 million in employer incentive funding, reimbursing 50% of apprentice wages for the first 480 hours in qualifying programs. Proposed budget adjustments would increase that funding and create a graduated reimbursement scale that prioritizes younger and in-school apprentices. Governor Kay Ivey has championed this work consistently, and bipartisan legislative support has kept investment flowing across budget cycles.

The Challenge: Reaching High Schoolers

Despite these strengths, Alabama identified a clear gap: while 60% of its registered apprentices are between ages 16 and 24, only about 12% of them are 16–17 year olds. The programs are working — but primarily for older youth who have already transitioned out of high school. Getting apprenticeship into the high school experience, not just after it, is the central challenge Alabama is bringing to the Apprenticeship America cohort.

The barriers are familiar ones. Many employers — particularly in manufacturing — still hold misconceptions about apprenticeship, viewing it as rigid, union-only, or legally complicated when it comes to hiring high school students. Reaching the nearly 90,000 Alabamians ages 18–24 who are neither enrolled in school nor employed will require not just more slots, but a fundamentally better pathway in — one that starts earlier and is better coordinated between K–12, employers, and postsecondary institutions.

There’s also a geographic challenge. Apprenticeship opportunities remain concentrated around major manufacturing employers, leaving rural students with fewer options. And while career coaches are present in many of Alabama’s schools, they aren’t yet systematically connected to apprenticeship pathways — an untapped opportunity the state is actively working to change.

An Eye on Shipbuilding — and Healthcare

Alabama’s expansion priorities reflect its economic identity. Austal USA, which operates a robust apprenticeship program supporting U.S. Navy shipbuilding in Mobile, is preparing to expand into submarine production — a growth trajectory projected to require approximately 10,000 additional workers in the coming years. Building high school pathways into these careers isn’t just workforce development; it’s national security infrastructure.

At the same time, Alabama is making a serious push in healthcare. A nursing apprenticeship launched in the state has scaled rapidly, demonstrating strong outcomes for both employers and participants. Alabama now aims to expand dual enrollment pathways for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) as well as strengthen pre-apprenticeships in nursing.

“Alabama has built an impressive foundation — strong employer partnerships, degree apprenticeships that are recognized nationally, and a community college system that’s fully in the game,” said Ryan Gensler, Executive Vice President at CareerWise. “What the Apprenticeship America cohort offers is the structure and peer learning to take that foundation and translate it into something that more high school students can leverage so we can start reversing Alabama’s labor market participation rate trend. “

What’s Next

As part of the Apprenticeship America cohort, Alabama will work with CareerWise and its national partners to build a structured expansion plan — with a particular focus on high school integration, employer recruitment, and coordinated communications that make apprenticeship a visible, understood option for students and families. The state has significantly increased the number of school systems participating in registered apprenticeship programs over the past year. The goal now is to make that momentum statewide and sustainable.

Learn more about the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center and the Apprenticeship America cohort in our press release.