GAO Report: Earn-and-Learn Opportunities Can Benefit Workers and Employers

Earn-and-learn opportunities, including Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), pre-apprenticeships, internships, and work-study, allow individuals to gain practical work experience and skills instruction while earning a wage. GAO identified at least 26 federal programs across five agencies. RAPs represent the most structured model, combining on-the-job training and mentorship, classroom instruction, progressive wage increases, and a credential issued by the Department of Labor.

RAPs enrolled approximately 940,000 participants in fiscal year 2024 across a range of industries, including construction, health care, financial services, information technology, cybersecurity, and shipbuilding. The report found that completers gained access to occupation-relevant education, industry-recognized credentials, and wages averaging approximately $80,000 annually in fiscal year 2023, higher than the average for associate's degree holders. Employers also reported benefits, including higher employee retention and a stronger pipeline of skilled workers for hard-to-fill positions.

The report also identifies barriers to broader expansion. Employers cited administrative burden, cost, and awareness gaps among both employers and jobseekers as key challenges.

Access the full report in the Materials section.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Author(s): GAO
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Damon Jones
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies