Employment & Labor
How States Are Combating AI Job Threats with Apprenticeships and Career Technical Education
September 16, 2025 | Lauren Johnson
States are ramping up workforce development efforts as they compete for new industries while facing worker shortages. With AI threatening traditional jobs, policymakers are turning to apprenticeships and career technical education to fill gaps in skilled trades. Apprenticeship programs have surged 88% since 2015, reaching over 670,000 registered participants nationwide. California, Texas, Ohio, and Indiana lead the country in these programs. States like Louisiana and Texas are sweetening the deal with tax credits and grants to make apprenticeships more attractive for both employers and workers. Career and technical education is getting a major boost with 28 new state bills this year alone. Washington now lets sixth graders explore CTE courses early. Missouri created a fund to cover tuition costs for two-year vocational schools, making these paths more affordable as college costs soar. The future looks bright for skilled trades as AI reshapes the job market. These hands-on careers are AI-resistant and offer financial stability without student debt. States will likely see increased demand for CTE and apprenticeship programs as more people seek secure, practical career paths.
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