A black Sharpie marker — a humble, tactile tool emblematic of decisiveness — was president Trump’s instrument of choice on April 23 as he signed seven new executive orders.
Among them, one stands out as a seismic shift in how the U.S. prepares its workforce: a bold federal commitment to scale up registered apprenticeships and reset the skills agenda.
Gone is the unchallenged dominance of the “college for everyone” mantra. In its place is a clear new policy direction: “Equip American workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other occupations.”
When a sitting president enshrines this in federal policy, it’s more than political posturing: it signals that the skills economy is no longer an afterthought. It’s front and center in the nation’s response to artificial intelligence disruption, industrial transition and economic renewal.
The executive orders reflect the times. According to Robert Lerman, chairman of Apprenticeships for America, “A growing number of young people are seeking careers that don’t require a college degree. They prefer on-the-job training to classroom academics.”
This moment has long been championed by workforce development advocates such as the Urban Institute and the nonprofit I work for. We have consistently argued that practical, hands-on learning — via apprenticeships and work-integrated pathways — is not just “alternative education.” It’s education that aligns with the real-world needs of employers and communities.
We must stop treating skills training as a backup plan. In many industries, it is the smartest, fastest and most secure route to economic mobility.
The new executive order embodies that ethos. It sets an ambitious goal: 1 million active apprenticeships, up from 680,000.
To meet this goal, the Departments of Labor, Education and Commerce have been ordered to reform fragmented federal workforce programs. These agencies now have less than a year to present a streamlined plan that should embrace both traditional trades and high-growth industries driven by AI and emerging technologies.
Existing programs will be expanded. But there’s more: It’s a strategic repositioning. Acknowledging that too many college graduates are underemployed or burdened with debt, the order repositions apprenticeships as a primary route — not a fallback — to well-paid, future-ready careers.
For decades, young Americans have been funnelled toward one narrow path: enroll in college, accrue debt, and hope for employability. That model is cracking. Some of the most in-demand, best-paid roles today — across cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, health tech, and green energy — aren’t advertised in glossy university brochures. They’re in skills-based pathways that allow people to learn while they earn.
Employers agree. What they need isn’t more diplomas; they need job-ready individuals who can deliver results from day one and grow with their organizations.
The executive order reflects the new market reality: The skills gaps in technical fields are widening. Traditional education pipelines aren’t keeping pace. And apprenticeships offer scalable, immediate solutions grounded in real-world needs.
By recognizing the urgency of skilling up the next generation — particularly in AI-driven industries — Washington is finally catching up with what industry leaders and workforce strategists have known for years: the future belongs to the skilled, not just the schooled.
And so, as the ink from a black Sharpie dries on yet another executive order, it’s more than symbolism. It’s a hands-on commitment to a hands-on economy. Apprenticeships are back in the limelight — and this time, they might just stay there.
Nicholas Wyman is the CEO of the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America and the author of two books on workforce development, including “Attract, Retain & Develop,” published April 2025.
