Apprenticeship programs in the United States have been growing in recent years in fields such as mechanics, electrical, and manufacturing. According to Jobs for the Future, the number of youth apprenticeships grew 113% between 2010 and 2020, a rate that far exceeded the overall growth in youth employment. Efforts to develop apprenticeship programs have emerged from local school districts, community colleges, workforce development organizations, and even the Department of Labor.
But what about the desire of job seekers to obtain an apprenticeship position? Data from Indeed indicates that interest is very much on the rise, with the share of searches containing the words “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” more than doubling since February 2020. The increase has been especially pronounced recently — the share of searches is up by 35.4% in 2025.
What might be driving this growth? It could be connected to the lackluster labor market of 2025 or the major efforts to increase the number and visibility of apprenticeships. Whatever the cause, job seekers’ interest in apprenticeships continues to climb in both absolute terms and relative to other job searches.
