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Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Apprenticeships for America Summit in Washington, D.C., and it was both energizing and informative to be surrounded by so many leaders working to strengthen and scale apprenticeships across the country.
The summit brought together employers, intermediaries, workforce leaders, educators, policy experts, and apprenticeship advocates to discuss some of the most important topics in our field: expanding access to apprenticeship, building stronger employer partnerships, understanding return on investment, strengthening state and regional systems, supporting emerging industries, and addressing the real barriers that can make apprenticeship difficult to scale.
One of the highlights for the Global Electronics Association was seeing VP of Education Dave Hernandez participate in Wednesday afternoon’s panel, “Closer to Employers, Tougher to Scale: Solving the Cross-State Apprenticeship Puzzle.” The conversation focused on a challenge many national employers and intermediaries understand well: how to remain responsive to employer needs while navigating different state systems, requirements, and funding structures.
For business owners across the U.S., the message was clear: Registered apprenticeship is not just a workforce program; it is a business strategy. Apprenticeship can help employers build talent pipelines, train workers to industry standards, improve retention, and create career pathways that meet both business and employee needs.
As workforce challenges continue across industries, employers do not have to solve them alone. Apprenticeship works best when businesses, training providers, workforce systems, and intermediaries collaborate with intention and shared purpose.
I left the summit encouraged by the momentum, the partnerships, and the growing recognition that apprenticeship is a practical and powerful tool for developing the skilled workforce our industries need.
If your company is exploring apprenticeship or looking for ways to strengthen your workforce pipeline, I’d love to connect and continue the conversation.
Victoria Hawkins is director of workforce grants and funding for the Global Electronics Association.
