Maryland’s economy faces a paradox. Employers across industries — from healthcare and technology to public education — are searching for skilled workers, while many residents are looking for pathways to stable careers capable of supporting their families. Whether because of a lack of experience or credentials, the talent pipeline is not keeping pace with demand.
Bridging that gap requires that we rethink how education and work connect in the first place.
Apprenticeships offer one of the clearest solutions. By allowing learners to earn income while gaining hands-on experience, apprenticeships align education with workforce demand in real time. Maryland is already proving what’s possible: more than 14,000 Marylanders participated in apprenticeship programs last year, an all-time high, and more than 1,000 employers across the state now train registered apprentices.
With continued collaboration between higher education, employers, and policymakers, our state has the opportunity to transform apprenticeships from a promising tool into a cornerstone of its workforce strategy.
Access Means Career Pathways, Too
For decades, expanding access to higher education has been a central priority for institutions and policymakers alike. But access alone does not guarantee opportunity. For many working adults and first-generation learners, enrolling in school isn’t the only challenge. Balancing education with other financial realities is even harder.
Apprenticeships help solve that challenge by enabling learners to build skills, gain experience, and earn wages simultaneously. Programs typically combine paid, on-the-job training with related instruction and can last anywhere from one to six years depending on the field.
The results can be transformative. Research from Maryland’s workforce data system shows that apprenticeship completers earn median annual wages of about $82,900 five years after completion, significantly higher than the earnings of many associate degree graduates over the same period.
Apprenticeships Position Maryland to Lead
Maryland already has the foundation for a national model of workforce development driven by apprenticeships.
In recent years, the state has expanded apprenticeship opportunities far beyond traditional trades into high-demand sectors like healthcare, life sciences, information technology, and education.
State leadership has also prioritized growth. The Maryland Apprenticeship Incentive Program, launched this year, invests $5 million to help employers cover training costs and expand registered apprenticeships.
These efforts are working. The state recently surpassed its goal of engaging 500 employers in apprenticeship programs and recruiting more than 5,000 new apprentices. Businesses are increasingly embracing the “earn while you learn” model.
From the perspective of a Maryland state legislator focused on workforce and economic mobility, the expansion of apprenticeships represents more than a workforce strategy. It is an economic development imperative. When employers help shape training programs and learners gain industry-relevant experience from day one, the result is a stronger pipeline of talent ready to fill critical roles in Maryland’s economy.
That approach also strengthens local communities by ensuring that opportunity is not limited by geography, income, or traditional educational pathways.
Turning Opportunity into Scalable Pathways
Despite encouraging momentum, realizing the full potential of apprenticeships will require sustained collaboration and innovation.
One key priority is building stronger connections between higher education institutions and employers. Universities and training providers can help translate workplace competencies into academic credit, stackable credentials, and degree pathways that recognize the value of on-the-job learning.
Some institutions are already advancing this model by embedding work-based learning into flexible, competency-based programs designed for working adults. In Maryland, community colleges and workforce training providers are increasingly partnering with employers to align academic programs with registered apprenticeship pathways in fields like healthcare and information technology.
Technology itself also has a role to play. Digital credentialing and workforce data systems are helping Maryland educators and employers better track skill development and align training programs with regional workforce needs.
Most importantly, the expansion of apprenticeships must remain focused on equity and access. By reaching underrepresented communities, adult learners, and career switchers, Maryland can ensure that apprenticeship growth translates into broader economic mobility.
A Blueprint for the Nation’s Future
Maryland's growing apprenticeship system, strong employer partnerships, and innovative education models have created the conditions for something larger: a workforce ecosystem where learning and work are not separate stages of life, but integrated pathways to opportunity.
What’s taking shape in Maryland doesn’t just have to be a state success story. It can also serve as a model for the country. As employers nationwide grapple with talent shortages and workers seek more affordable, practical pathways into promising careers, Maryland’s approach offers a clear roadmap. By aligning education with real-time workforce needs, investing in “earn while you learn” opportunities, and prioritizing access, the state is demonstrating how to prepare a workforce built for the future.
The next step is scaling what works: continuing to expand apprenticeships, strengthening partnerships between educators and employers, and ensuring that more learners can pursue flexible, career-ready pathways.
If Maryland continues to build on this momentum, we can help lead a broader shift in how America thinks about workforce development, proving that apprenticeships are a central strategy for building a stronger, more inclusive economy.
By Dr. K.L. Allen is regional vice president at Western Governors University and Cory McCray is the Maryland state senator serving its 45th district, which includes Baltimore City.
