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America at Work: Making America Skilled Again through Registered Apprenticeship

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration where ApprenticeshipUSA partners - employers, apprentices and graduates, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state, and local government agencies and more - host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs. 

The inaugural spring National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), held from April 26 - May 2, 2026, was the largest NAW in history with over 3,000 total Registered Apprenticeship events and proclamations! Thank you to all our ApprenticeshipUSA partners who participated in the celebration by hosting events, providing remarks as event speakers, submitting proclamations, attending activities, and more!

The theme for NAW 2026 was America at Work: Making America Skilled Again through Registered Apprenticeship. As the nation celebrates its 250th year and continues its reindustrialization, the overarching NAW 2026 theme reflects Registered Apprenticeship's prominence as a key strategy to ensure the American worker is equipped for the skilled jobs of today and tomorrow. NAW proclamations and events held around the country help to build awareness of Registered Apprenticeship as we collectively work towards enrolling 1 million apprentices! Check out the Department's press release to learn more about NAW 2026 celebrations. 

Save the date! Future National Apprenticeship Week observances after 2026 will take place during the below dates:

  • April 25 – May 1, 2027
  • April 23 – April 29, 2028

Below you can find NAW 2026 activity highlights including blogs, videos, and photos. We encourage you to share your NAW highlights with us.

National Signing Day Ceremony

Check out the recording from the landmark National Signing Day Ceremony, the kickoff event for National Apprenticeship Week 2026.  Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling as well as representatives from AstraZeneca, JobForward, IBM, and M&T Bank participated to celebrate the expansion of industry-driven Registered Apprenticeship programs and the commitment of America's employers to building a highly skilled workforce for the future. This ceremony highlighted a key part of the Department of Labor’s national effort to create more pathways to secure, high-paying jobs and help propel us toward our goal of one million apprentices.

Building the AI-Ready Workforce through Registered Apprenticeship

Check out the recording from the National Apprenticeship Week 2026 marquee event, "Building the AI-Ready Workforce through Registered Apprenticeship." During this session, DOL leaders highlighted Registered Apprenticeship as a proven, scalable path to artificial intelligence (AI) skills, emphasizing AI’s impact on the future workforce. A panel discussion with representatives from private sector leaders in AI, including Google, NPower, Lockheed Martin, and BuildWithin, explored how AI is transforming Registered Apprenticeship programs to upskill workers and expand talent pipelines. Read the Department's press release to learn more about resources to help equip workers and employers to lead in an AI economy, including the launch of its AI in Registered Apprenticeship Innovation Portal.