Immigrants in Registered Apprenticeship Industries in Virginia

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.  Registered Apprenticeships are industry-vetted and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency."

In FY2025, there are an estimated 678,014 active Registered Apprentices (RAs) in the United States, which has grown by 88.5 percent since FY2015. The top five states in terms of the active number of RAs are California (77,774), Texas (38,773), Ohio (25,933), Indiana (25,250), and Washington (22,292). In FY2025, there are an estimated 12,698 active RAs are located in Virginia, earning a median wage of $15.82 and a mean wage of $16.89. Compared to FY2015, when there were 3,062 RAs in the Commonwealth, the FY2025 count represents close to three-fold increase. While Virginia’s total workforce comprises of 2.7 percent of national workforce, only 1.9 percent of actives RAs at the national level are located in Virginia. In Virginia, RA positions are overwhelmingly held by men (more than 80%). The population of apprentices in Virginia is predominantly White (64%) and not Hispanic or Latino (65%). In comparison, the majority of the RAs at the national level are male (84%), White (60%), and non-Hispanic or Latino (61%). It is also important to note that immigrants living in Virginia were more likely to be employed in registered apprenticeship industries compared to native-born residents (66.3% vs. 61.3%).

Read our detailed report on "Registered Apprenticeship in the United States: Focus on Immigrants Employed in Registered Apprenticeship Occupations in Virginia."