KRIVET

The United States has traditionally lagged behind European nations such as Germany and Switzerland in workforce development through apprenticeships. Over the past several decades, however, the government and the private sector—including technology and advanced manufacturing giants like Google, IBM, and Amazon—have increasingly championed their expansion. The U.S. operates an industry-driven Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) that has nearly doubled in size over the past decade, growing from approximately 360,000 active apprentices in FY2015 to over 670,000 in FY2025 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2025). Alongside this quantitative growth, apprenticeship programs have pursued qualitative advancements by expanding into advanced manufacturing and services and diversifying participation to include more women and racial and ethnic minorities (The White House, 2024).

Like the U.S., Korea was a relative latecomer to apprenticeships but has similarly recognized their value, launching a variety of government initiatives to promote them. In 2013, to build a society that values practical skills over academic credentials, the government established the Work-Based Learning Dual System. This joint initiative between the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Education has been managed as a national priority and continues to evolve. Rather than directly importing the German or Swiss models, Korea tailored this system to the specific demands of its domestic industries.

In this context, the U.S. case provides a particularly compelling parallel. While lessons can be drawn from countries with long-established apprenticeship traditions, the American experience of rapidly cultivating a robust system from a newer or weaker foundation offers a more analogous benchmark for Korea. The U.S. developmental path, including the trials and errors overcome during its recent expansion, offers uniquely relevant insights for Korean policymakers.