By Joe St. Henry, Oakland County Michigan Works!
Conversations across Michigan about the future of the state’s workforce today include plenty of excitement around the growth of Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Once reserved for the skilled trades and construction, Registered Apprenticeship Programs and the “learn and earn” approach to building a skilled workforce are gaining rapid popularity in other fields, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, education, agriculture, professional services and the public sector.
The number of Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Michigan has doubled over the past decade, with 20,600 active Registered Apprentices working in the state now, ranking Michigan fourth nationally.
In Oakland County, there are more than 2,200 Registered Apprentices across 83 active programs, according to the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.
“Building a highly skilled, competitive workforce is essential to Oakland County’s long-term economic success,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “There are more Registered Apprenticeships available today than ever before.”
Nationally Recognized, Portable Credential
According to the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL), more than 1,200 occupations qualify for the Registered Apprenticeship training model. Apprentices who complete a Registered Apprenticeship Program, which can take up to five years to complete, obtain a portable, nationally recognized credential. Programs can be sponsored, or operated, by individual employers, joint employer and labor groups, and/or employer associations.
“A Registered Apprenticeship Program, which include both on-the-job training under the guidance of a mentor, as well as extensive related classroom instruction, is a great pathway to building a rewarding career,” said Jennifer Llewellyn, director of Oakland County Michigan Works!, a long-time partner and Foundation Member of Automation Alley. “Upon completion of a Registered Apprenticeship, the average apprentice makes upwards of $80,000 annually.”
For employers faced with a shortage of skilled workers, the opportunity to build their team from within through a customizable Registered Apprenticeship Program is well worth the investment, especially considering more than 90 percent of Registered Apprentices stay with their employer after the apprenticeship ends.
“Apprenticeships foster an immediate bond of loyalty between employees and employers, creating a foundation of trust and growth from day one,” said Jessican Keenan, project manager for the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN).
Sarah Hug, business services professional at Oakland County Michigan Works!, put it more succinctly, “When someone earns a degree, what kind of skills do they really come away with that are applicable to a specific job? A Registered Apprenticeship helps an apprentice develop the skills for the job.”
Building A Talent Pipeline
FANUC America Corporation, a global leader in robotic automation located in Rochester Hills, started its Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2023.
“This is a challenging time to build talent,” said Denise Scanlon, FANUC talent acquisition partner. “We took advantage of the opportunity to build a Registered Apprenticeship Program to build the skills sets of our workers and establish a long-term pipeline for talent.”
Barron Industries in Oxford manufactures precision machined metal castings for the aerospace, defense and automotive sectors. It launched a Registered Apprenticeship Program two years ago to address the challenge of a transitioning workforce.
“Some of our employees are nearing a well-earned retirement,” said Lissa Barron, director of communications, Barron Industries. “We are committed to growing our team by investing in professional development and promoting from within. Our Registered Apprenticeship Program is key to this effort, helping us train and mentor the next generation of skilled machinists.”
Farmington Hills-based Humanetics, a leading manufacturer of advanced safety and sensor technology for a variety of industries, launched its Registered Apprenticeship Program to train electronics technicians in 2022.
“We make sure the apprentice is successful day-in and day-out,” said David Danes, operations manager. “The biggest difference between a standard onboarding process and a Registered Apprenticeship is the depth of education and skill building that goes into the two-year program.”
Mentors play a critical role in this in-depth training. Eaton Steel in Oak Park launched its Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2025, to train mechatronics technician apprentices. The company currently has one Registered Apprentice who works with a team of mentors on a daily basis, with plans to add more apprentices in the future.
“Our team of mentors goes beyond traditional training they serve as coaches, role models, and trusted guides who help apprentices translate technical knowledge into real world application,” said Carmen Patterson, human resources manager, Eaton Steel. “Their hands-on support not only builds critical skills, but also instills confidence, accountability, and a strong work ethic.”
FEV North America, located in Auburn Hills, is an engineering and digital mobility company that specializes in vehicle and powertrain technologies. There are five people participating in two Registered Apprenticeship Programs for welder-fitters and mechatronics technicians at the company.
“Our Registered Apprenticeship Programs with the skilled trades involve a lot of hands-on work, both at work and in the classroom,” said Julie Brown, senior technical recruiter – human resources, FEV North America. “It’s important for our apprentices to learn how to do things the right way and it’s great knowing they will hit the ground running to be successful on the job.”
Henry Ford Health, the largest healthcare provider in Southeast Michigan, currently has 31 Registered Apprentices on staff, to help address its skilled worker shortage. These include preparing people for roles as certified nurse assistants, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, and surgical and radiologic technologists. The Registered Apprenticeships vary in length from ten months to two years.
More than 100 Registered Apprentices have completed their programs since Henry Ford Health started the apprentice program in 2017 with virtually of them still working there. Many of them have continued their education to further advance their healthcare careers, including nursing degrees.
“We empower our employees to grow their careers and continually evolve,” said Eleyna Montroy, manager of clinical care services, Henry Ford Health.
Funding for Wages, Instruction and Supportive Services
Oakland County Michigan Works! launched its Advantage: Apprenticeship program in 2021 to assist employers in developing and growing Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
In addition to providing valuable funding to help offset apprentice wages and classroom instruction, the six Oakland County Michigan Works! locations provide a variety of supportive services to eligible Registered Apprentices. This includes financial support to help address transportation and childcare needs, apprentice uniform and equipment purchases, books and supplies, and other related expenses.
“We love our relationship with Oakland County Michigan Works!,” said Cheria Thomas, workforce development manager, Henry Ford Health. “They help us launch or Registered Apprenticeship Programs, identify candidates to fill the cohorts and provide the additional wraparound services to set up our apprentices for success.”
Llewellyn’s team used $1,463,000 in State Apprenticeship Expansion (SAE) grants over the past five years to support 443 individual apprentices across 45 Oakland County-based employers.
This includes The Learning Experience in South Lyon, which recently launched a Registered Apprenticeship Program to train early childhood educators using SAE funds.
“The SAE grant has been instrumental in supporting our teachers as they enter the Registered Apprenticeship Program and work toward earning their Child Development Associate credential,” said Mollie Blixt, president of operations. “The credential not only provides a nationally recognized certification and certificate from the State of Michigan, but allows our educators to advance professionally and earn high wages.”
Another funding source for Registered Apprenticeship Programs is the State of Michigan’s popular Going PRO Talent Fund, administered locally by Oakland County Michigan Works! Last year, 604 new and existing apprentices in Oakland County benefited from short-term training paid for through the state program. Another 448 Registered Apprentices received training through the Going PRO Talent Fund during the first part of 2026.
“Our partnership with Oakland County Michigan Works! has been instrumental in meeting our workforce recruiting and training needs,” said Andy Barnum, director of training and development, at Lee Industrial Contracting in Pontiac. “Through the Going PRO Talent Fund and braided funding opportunities, we’ve provided targeted training through our Registered Apprenticeship Program that enhances skills, safety and efficiency across our operations, while developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals.”
K-Tec Systems in Ferndale employs 11 people and makes instrumentation that measures temperature, pressure and flow in the automotive, aviation and pharmaceutical industries. The small business launched a Registered Apprenticeship Program earlier this year.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund is an amazing program, especially for small, growing businesses like ours,” said Cathy Koch, CEO and president, K-Tec Systems, in Ferndale. “These training resources make us competitive by enabling us to train our employees and help them grow. A skilled workforce helps us stay competitive, expand business and stay at the forefront of our industry.”
Return On Investment
According to the U.S. DOL – Office of Apprenticeship, employers realize an average return on investment of $1.47 for every $1 invested in a Registered Apprenticeship Program. Additionally, every $1 invested in apprenticeships leads to a public return of approximately $28 in benefits.
“The Registered Apprenticeship Program at Eaton Steel is a strategic investment in our workforce and our future,” Patterson said. “By creating structured pathways for skill development, we are empowering our employees to grow within the organization while building the technical expertise needed to remain competitive in today’s manufacturing environment.”
Oakland County Michigan Works! recently published the latest edition of the Oakland County Registered Apprenticeship Guide, featuring 72 programs in a variety of industries. To view the Guide online, visit www.oakgov.info/RAPGuide. To request a printed copy or learn more about Registered Apprenticeships, contact Oakland County Apprenticeship Success Coordinator Elizabeth Rivard-Weston, rivardwestone@oakgov.com.