North Carolina’s Historic Investment Marks New Chapter for Registered Apprenticeship and Workforce Development
North Carolina is making a major investment in Registered Apprenticeship by allocating an additional $3.17 million in recurring funding through the 2026–2027 state budget to support ApprenticeshipNC (ANC), a part of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). The investment provides a sustainable foundation for continued expansion while reinforcing the state’s commitment to Registered Apprenticeship as a key workforce development strategy. The funding will strengthen ANC’s ability to serve employers, apprentices, and workforce partners while advancing North Carolina’s economic competitiveness.
For more than a decade, Registered Apprenticeship growth in North Carolina has been driven primarily by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) grant funding. The enacted 2026–2027 state budget brings ANC’s revised net appropriation to $4.4 million and marks a new chapter for Registered Apprenticeship in North Carolina. With core operational costs covered through recurring state funding, ANC can strategically leverage future DOL grant investments to increase employer engagement and statewide expansion.
Strengthening North Carolina’s Registered Apprenticeship System
Beyond establishing a sustainable funding model, the legislation advances strategies to expand Registered Apprenticeship across the state. Amongst its provisions is a directive requiring ANC to research state-funded incentives for employers and other sponsors and to identify approaches most likely to increase Registered Apprenticeship starts, improve completion rates, and enhance post-completion outcomes.
The budget also stipulates that ANC must develop a plan in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, the State Board of Community Colleges, the Department of Public Instruction, and TeachNC to facilitate one or more expedited pathways for Registered Apprenticeship candidates to enter the teaching profession. These efforts reflect North Carolina’s broader commitment to using Registered Apprenticeship as a flexible workforce solution that can address talent needs across industries and communities.
Growing North Carolina’s Talent Pipeline
As of 2026, the DOL recognizes over 1,400 apprenticeable occupations across all industries, including healthcare, IT, teaching, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, and the skilled trades. In fiscal year 2025–2026, ANC saw an increase of 9% in Registered Apprenticeship enrollments and 25% in Registered Pre-Apprenticeship enrollments compared to fiscal year 2024–2025.
According to Dr. Chris Harrington, State Director of ApprenticeshipNC, the new funding provides a significant opportunity to expand Registered Apprenticeship across North Carolina:
The state’s new recurring investment in Registered Apprenticeship creates an important opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure employers and apprentices need, reduce barriers to participation, and move from individual success stories toward a durable statewide system. The employer-driven market demand suggests that we will see more growth in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, and utilities. We are also working with our ecosystem partners to expand further into K-12 teachers and the public sector.
Advancing a Coordinated Workforce Strategy
Building a strong workforce requires collaboration amongst employers, education providers, workforce organizations, state agencies, local governments, and community partners. Registered Apprenticeship is not a standalone solution; it is part of a coordinated workforce strategy that aligns education, training, and employment opportunities to meet the needs of individuals and businesses.
As part of the NCCCS’s Economic Development Division, ApprenticeshipNC works with partners across the state to align workforce solutions, share resources, reduce barriers, and create pathways that help employers develop talent and individuals advance into meaningful careers. The Apprenticeship Council, an advisory body that provides guidance on North Carolina’s Registered Apprenticeship system, helps bring together industry, education, government, and workforce leaders to support the continued development of Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Roger Collins, Chair of the Apprenticeship Council, emphasized Registered Apprenticeship’s impact and the council’s commitment:
The Apprenticeship Council is united by a shared belief that Registered Apprenticeship is one of the most effective workforce training and scaling tools available today. Through collaboration and a steadfast commitment to employers and apprentices alike, we are building stronger talent pipelines, a more resilient workforce, and a stronger economy for future generations.
The NCCCS plays a critical role in advancing workforce and economic development across all 100 counties. Through financial support programs such as the Apprenticeship Tuition Waiver and Workforce Pell, the system helps make education and Registered Apprenticeship more accessible. With ApprenticeshipNC housed within the Economic Development Division of the NCCCS, North Carolina is well-positioned to continue expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities across the state.
Discussing the importance of workforce development to North Carolina’s economic growth, John Loyack, Vice President of Economic Development at the NC Community College System Office, said:
Workforce development isn’t just a support program—it is core economic infrastructure. Our community college network covering all 100 counties is where talent meets opportunity, serving as the essential bridge between state businesses and a skilled workforce. With this year’s state budget investment, we can directly fund innovative workforce programs, scale up customized training, and ensure our colleges remain agile, responsive, and ready to power North Carolina’s growing economy.
The state’s investment works in tandem with broader statewide efforts to strengthen workforce development and advance Registered Apprenticeship, including the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, housed within the NCWorks Commission, and NC Career Launch, North Carolina’s Youth Apprenticeship system led by the Office of the Governor and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE). These efforts align employers, educators, state leaders, and workforce partners to expand career pathways, support businesses, and strengthen North Carolina’s Registered Apprenticeship ecosystem.
About ApprenticeshipNC: Recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship to act on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor, ApprenticeshipNC, a part of the North Carolina Community College System, is the only approved registration and compliance body for Registered Apprenticeship in North Carolina. The ApprenticeshipNC team works directly with employers, educational institutions, and community partners in all 100 North Carolina counties to design, launch, and expand Registered Apprenticeship and Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Programs. ANC also acts as an information source for individuals interested in pursuing career opportunities through Registered Apprenticeship.