Tracking a Decade of Growth in Rural Registered Apprenticeships

Tracking a Decade of Growth in Rural Registered Apprenticeships
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
August 2026

This article provides information and data about the growth of registered apprenticeships in rural areas, as well as how apprenticeship can benefit these areas and employers who have faced workforce challenges, especially post-COVID. The report details recent growth of apprenticeship in both rural and urban communities, how rural participation in apprenticeship differs across states, and the increase of youth participation in rural apprenticeships.