Blog Published October 30, 2025 · 2 minute read
Comparing Five International Apprenticeship Models
Curran McSwigan
Two out of every three workers in the United States don’t have a college degree.1 Because of that, policymakers are faced with a central question when thinking about the future of the American economy: how do we provide other high-quality training outside of a traditional four-year college degree?
Apprenticeships must be a key part of that answer. This earn-and-learn model, where workers earn wages while getting technical and foundational instruction, and on-the-job training, can provide a path to the middle class. They have the potential to revolutionize training and economic opportunity in the United States, but high-quality models—and effective policy to support growth with quality—are not being utilized enough in this country.
In our new report, we evaluate international apprenticeship models from the UK, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada, to provide insights for US policymakers on how to scale earn-and-learn models. The table below pulls out some of our most interesting findings and provides a high-level look at the key features and challenges these countries face in their apprenticeship programs. It also draws out useful takeaways for US policymakers looking to tackle this issue at home.
