Michigan 2026 Apprenticeship Report Documents Record 2025 Participation

Michigan Apprenticeship Newsroom · Published October 18, 2026 · Southfield, Michigan · News analysis

Based on verified public reporting from an official Michigan agency. This independent summary is not an announcement that a particular employer has vacancies.

The Michigan Center for Data and Analytics reports a record 23,200 active apprentices in 2025 and nearly 8,600 new registrations.

What the statewide report measured

The Michigan Center for Data and Analytics reported that Michigan had about 23,200 active Registered Apprentices in 2025, ranking fourth nationally. The same report documented nearly 8,600 new apprentices, approximately 3,000 completions, and a 15.6% increase in completers from the prior year.

The report also gives a median one-year-after wage of $89,260 for people who completed a Registered Apprenticeship in 2024. That is an outcome for the report's cohort, not a promised salary for new apprentices or all graduates.

Understanding the difference between participation and openings

The number of active apprentices measures people participating in programs. It is not a live inventory of available jobs. An individual looking to enter a program should still look for sponsor-specific vacancies, application periods and current qualifying criteria.

Wages also differ by trade, region, employer, years of training and completion status. Entry-level rates cannot be inferred from a median wage measured one year after program completion.

What employers and job seekers can take from the data

For employers, the report offers a reason to examine whether structured earn-and-learn programs could support their long-term staffing needs. For job seekers, it points to a range of formal pathways that may deliver portable credentials.

The practical decision remains local: review each apprenticeship opening, compare requirements and ask the sponsor for the written standards and training schedule.