Wisconsin now leads the nation in youth apprenticeship participation (Courtesy of the Apprenticeship Revival) — The past 2025-26 school year was a milestone marker for the Badger State. For the first time ever, single-year youth apprenticeship participation soared past the 12,000-student mark — the most in the United States. That’s also a 7% increase over the previous year, which had been the state record.
Those Wisconsin youths contributed to what was also the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the state’s overall apprenticeship initiative — comprising the Youth Apprenticeship (YA), Certified Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs — which saw more than 18,500 total participants.
Of course, these types of programs aren’t new concepts. Apprenticeships not only predate the United States’ higher education institutions but the nation itself.
While Wisconsin’s formal apprenticeship system wasn’t created until the early 1900s, its YA program is currently the largest of its kind — in terms of participation — in the country.
Yet, apprenticeships in the modern era may not be what one expects. Certainly, the skilled trades (manufacturing, mechanical, construction careers and more) continue to be sought-after offerings through YA, but aren’t the lone options.
For instance, according to statewide figures from the 2025-26 school year, the most participated-in “pathway” was through health sciences apprenticeships (2,193 students) followed by manufacturing (1,578 students) and marketing (1,575 students).
There are 16 total Youth Apprenticeship program areas students may select from:
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
- Architecture & Construction
- Arts, Audio Visual Tech & Communication
- Business Administration
- Education
- Finance
- Health Science
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology (IT)
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
- Science, Technologcal, Engineering & Math
- Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Those students who complete their Youth Apprenticeship programs move forward having earned a state workforce certification, compensation — YA touts an “earn while you learn” model — and the real-world experiences and connections that come with them.
As four-year college graduates face the toughest job market in years, and Wisconsin sees its own shrinking workforce population, these record-high YA participation levels aren’t just a trend — they’re an indication of where young people are finding tangible value as they look to the future.
These record-high YA participation levels aren’t just a trend — they’re an indication of where young people are finding tangible value as they look to the future.
The Local ‘Earn While You Learn’ Scene
In the Chippewa Valley, a 24-school consortium — including those in Altoona, Augusta, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Fall Creek, Menomonie and other communities — continues to see apprenticeship buy-in from employers as well as students.
The region’s program, aptly named Chippewa Valley Youth Apprenticeship, is facilitated by the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA 10).
Through CESA 10, the 2025-26 school year saw more than 270 students and over 200 local businesses collaborate — up from the previous school year, which worked with about 240 students and 190 employers.
Katie Feuerhelm, CESA 10’s regional coordinator, has been involved in CESA for over six years. Prior to that, she worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic’s Career & Technical Education Center, where she conducted research on youth apprenticeship.
“In recent years, attitudes toward youth apprenticeship in Wisconsin have become increasingly favorable among students, families, schools and employers,” Feuerhelm said. She pointed to current labor shortages and increasing costs of higher education, among other things, as reasons why.
Local long-term data backs Feuerhelm’s observation. Over the past decade, more than 2,450 students and 1,180 employers have participated in the Chippewa Valley Youth Apprenticeship program alone.
At Fall Creek High School, where Kayla Loewenhagen is an agriscience educator and FFA advisor, the top YA pathways students pursue are hospitality, lodging and tourism, and marketing.
“Here in Fall Creek we have an 80% to 90% certification rate depending on the year,” Loewenhagen said.
In the YA program, students must be actively passing their in-school work experience class to participate in their apprenticeship in the workplace. Both must be completed in order to earn the program certificate.
That stipulation can also serve as academic motivation. For recent Regis Catholic Schools graduate, Ben Jentlie, such was the case.
Regis Dean of Students, Amanda Shelton, has supported the schools’ YA program over the past few years and seen its impact on students like Jentlie.
“School isn’t everyone’s thing,” Shelton said. “There are a number of students who are hands-on learners and just not into academics.”
After entering the YA program, selecting the diesel mechanic pathway, Jentlie hit his stride in both school and workforce development.
Apprenticing at Eau Claire’s Haas Sons, Inc., Jentlie continued that program through both his junior and senior high school years — and upon graduation, was offered a full-time job [Facebook Link] at the west-central Wisconsin construction business.
This model is followed by those schools which participate through a facilitator like CESA, directly through the state or local Chamber of Commerce.