What is Youth Apprenticeship?

This blogpost presents a definition of youth apprenticeship (YA) as “an apprenticeship specifically designed for and serving youth—whether in or out of school—between the ages of 16 and 24 [which] provides opportunities for students to experience and gain skills in a real work environment and gives businesses a chance to inspire and develop a new generation of talent.” The blogpost distinguishes between an apprenticeship and an internship and describes the primary differences between YA and standard Registered Apprenticeship as how youth are recruited and supported throughout the program in terms of their schedules and the tasks they can do on the job. It also provides illustrations of youth apprenticeship programs, including the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship (CRYA) in South Carolina, and the steps to get started in developing an in-school youth apprenticeship. Additional resources and references are also provided.