New fields for apprenticeship

This publication, building on evidence presented in the 2025 Cedefop/OECD symposium on ‘New fields for apprenticeship’, captures the analyses of such expansion efforts, drawing useful lessons on the objectives, processes and outcomes of such initiatives.
It provides policymakers with valuable insights from research from around the world and supports better-informed decisions regarding the expansion of apprenticeship offerings into new sectors and occupations, potentially for different education levels and learner groups.

Facts  and findings

• Apprenticeships are increasingly relevant in sectors requiring a combination of advanced technical and soft skills, such as those of cybersecurity, educational technology and Fintech
• Research results on insurance practitioner apprenticeships at higher education levels in Ireland suggest that the degree apprenticeship model offers a significant benefit to all stakeholders – graduates, employers and current apprentices
• degree apprenticeships for computing in Scotland are a clear path for inclusiveness and innovation
• an IT apprenticeship for Indigenous People in Canada has reached success in terms of enrolment, completion rates, transition to employment and gender equity
• An apprenticeship for teachers in Washington State, US, has been successful in preparing participants to assume teaching roles, had a positive impact on students’ learning and achievement and  also helped attract a more racially and ethnically diverse cohort of prospective teachers
• An early childhood education and care apprenticeship programme in Hungary helped ensure well-rounded preparation of teaching assistants at higher technician levels, with close collaboration between vocational schools and universities
• Apprenticeships in the healthcare sector in France emerged as a significant recruitment alternative that has helped alleviate the acute shortages faced in the sector and also gave opportunities to people who would not be able to afford the three-year classroom-based alternative
• The reform of healthcare apprenticeships in Germany enhanced the knowledge basis and occupational flexibility of nursing professionals
• Analysis of scaffolding apprentices in EU Member States reveals that introducing a formal apprenticeship programme leading to a (complete) scaffolding qualification has a positive effect on developing a relatively autonomous workforce
• The introduction of an apprenticeship programme for winemakers in Tuscany, Italy, proved to attract learners, align learning with sectoral skill needs and support a regional skill ecosystem approach

Key messages

• apprenticeship can be a suitable education and training option to offer the skills and qualifications needed in these new sectors - employers and apprentices often share the positive view on the suitability of apprenticeship programmes to fully qualify them for their new occupation
• employers can greatly benefit from emerging apprenticeship programmes in these new sectors, not only by addressing pressing skill shortages but also through increased productivity, talent attraction and retention / loyalty
• learners also enjoy considerable benefits by joining apprenticeship programmes in new fields in terms increased wages during learning and after graduating
• the expansion of apprenticeships in new sectors is a catalyst for inclusiveness: not only because of the mentoring figures at school and the workplace, but also – when it comes to apprenticeshpis at higher levels - by offering learnes who couldn’t afford tuitions a route to higher education qualifications
• different actors lead initiatives to expand apprenticeships (state, employers, trade unions, teacher unions, regional authorities)

Policy pointers

• Expansion to new sectors requires additional efforts to raise awareness and address persisting perception issues
• teaching and training capacity is a key success factor when introducing apprenticeships in new fields
• it is important to equip new programmes with a comprehensive set of quality elements that fit the true characteristics of a true apprenticeship
• rigorous monitoring and evaluation of new programmes can help reach higher quality levels, but also document the benefits for new sectors and learners