California Youth Apprenticeship Committee releases report on workforce pathways
Oakland — Today, the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC), convened by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), released its report, The California Youth Apprenticeship Model, which includes recommendations to expand youth apprenticeship programs focused on strengthening the state’s workforce and closing the skills gap.
The recommendations highlight the need to expand pathways for both in-school and out-of-school youth by creating apprenticeship opportunities that start in high school and link to community college programs, and by providing supportive services that connect out-of-school youth to meaningful employment.
Currently, 32 percent of apprentices in California are between the ages of 16 and 24. The report estimates that the state’s apprenticeship system could grow to serve up to 650,000 apprentices overall.
The report’s recommendations include:
- Creating a new Career Apprenticeship Bridge (CAB) Program to allow more young people to begin apprenticeships while still in high school and gain paid work experience. Currently, most apprenticeships begin after high school.
- Expanding college-connected pathways by integrating youth apprenticeships with college connected California Apprenticeship Initiative programs. This would allow high school graduates in a CAB program to continue their apprenticeships at the community college level.
- Investing in supportive services for out-of-school and disconnected youth to help them complete pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. These services, often provided through community-based organizations, may include mentorship, life skills training, and tutoring.
- Implementing youth apprenticeships through an Intermediary Model at the regional, county, and state levels. Intermediaries connect employers and educators to design, run, and scale apprenticeship programs, while supporting apprentices throughout their journey. For employers, intermediaries help with recruitment and training. For educators, they aid in industry-specific curriculum development. And for youth, intermediaries help identify interests and understand occupational skills requirements.
What the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) Chief Adele Burnes said: “As we build a youth apprenticeship system in California, we want to ensure the creation of dual pathways that serve both high school students and out-of-school youth. It’s exciting to see how this framework aligns with the state’s workforce plan and reinforces California’s leadership as the world’s fourth-largest economy.”
What CYAC co-convener Adam Peck of the CA Workforce Association said: “We believe our strategy will engage more youth to explore apprenticeships. Learning in both classroom and workplace settings makes education purposeful for youth and can open more doors to steady employment.”
What CYAC youth member Stephen Rodriguez said: “Apprenticeships have transformed my own life and empowered me with the skills needed to pursue a career in technology. I am passionate about helping younger generations who are interested in taking a similar path. It’s exciting to see these recommendations come together, providing youth with real options starting in high school.”
Why youth apprenticeships matter
Youth apprenticeships provide a debt-free pathway to employment and can shorten the training-to-career timeline. The workforce development model addresses systemic barriers by making career pathways more accessible across socioeconomic backgrounds. This approach can improve equity and lower unemployment rates. Employers also benefit by designing their apprenticeship programs to meet industry-specific needs, creating a pipeline of talent where apprentices can transition into ongoing employment.
DAS is strengthening the youth apprenticeship system through strategic funding, such as the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship grant (COYA). COYA focuses on disconnected youth who face barriers such as poverty, homelessness, and young parenting. The initiative demonstrates how supportive services, such as transportation and childcare, help apprentices succeed in completing their programs.
To date, $46.4 million in COYA funding has been awarded to 80 apprenticeship programs, creating pathways to high-demand careers in healthcare, education, and other sectors.
How we got here
State lawmakers created and tasked the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC) with developing guiding principles for expanding youth apprenticeship programs in California. DAS convened CYAC in collaboration with the California Workforce Association, which was similarly tasked and funded at the federal level to develop and pilot youth apprenticeships in California. The 19 members represent youth-serving organizations, labor representatives, K–12 schools, community colleges, employers, and those involved in the public workforce system.
The CYAC recommendations expand access to meaningful work for young Californians, in alignment with Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order focused on reconnecting men and boys with pathways to enter the workforce. Additionally, these recommendations highlight career pathways that do not require a four-year degree, a priority echoed in the Governor’s Master Plan on Career Education.
The framework also aligns with the Governor’s Jobs First Initiative, which outlines the state’s workforce development strategy and economic priorities. The initiatives prioritize the growth of youth apprenticeship programs through funding such as the COYA grant.
About the Division of Apprenticeship Standards
The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce by establishing innovative apprenticeship programs that offer training to create viable career pathways for Californians.
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161