Hollywood actor Patrick Ball recently made headlines for calling his $80,000 in a “huge burden.” In an interview with Cultured magazine, Ball said he believes he would have died in debt if not for landing a starring role in the award-winning drama “The Pitt.”
Ball lucked out, but for most Americans, theres no such happy ending. More than 42 million Americans have student loans, bringing the total outstanding federal-student-loan debt to over $1.6 trillion. The average borrower has an outstanding balance of around $40,000.
Pursuing a degree makes sense for many individuals, but its not a one-size-fits-all solution. Too many students graduate to discover a drought of job prospects in their field while simultaneously struggling to afford student-loan payments. Even if they manage to land a job, the average annual salary of a recent college graduate is barely enough to sustain one person, let alone a family. The result is paralyzing debt and a stalled future.
But it doesnt have to be this way. Under President s leadership, the Department of Labor (DOL) is working hard to create alternative pathways for Americans seeking secure, family-supporting, in-demand careers. As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, were spotlighting programs that offer hands-on training, strong mentorship opportunities, and credentials that benefit workers and employers alike.
Last year, Trump issued an executive order titled ” Trade Jobs of the Future” and set a goal of securing more than 1 million active apprentices. To achieve this mission, DOL partnered with the Departments of Commerce and Education to develop Americas Talent Strategy.
For too long, theres been a receive and the skills that employers seek. Americas Talent Strategy aims to change that by meeting the needs of employers and preparing more Americans to access high-wage careers. Were realigning federal workforce programs with investments in private sector training and evolving skill demands as well as partnering with American businesses who are dedicated to employing new apprentices as key pieces of their talent pipelines.
Thats not all. The Labor Department has committed $3,500 incentive payments to partner employers for every registered apprentice hired. Under Trumps leadership, were also streamlining the process for potential partner companies and slashing the red tape that discourages organizations from creating similar programs.
Additionally, were breaking down the silos that have hampered how America prepares its workforce. Last year, DOL signed a historic partnership agreement with the . Under this arrangement, DOL can support and influence a broader set of workforce programs previously spread across federal agencies. That means cutting redundant efforts, shrinking bloated government bureaucracy and giving more flexibility to states.
All of this has empowered the Labor Department to add more than 386,000 apprentices and more than 3,300 new Registered Apprenticeship programs since Trump took office last January. Apprentices enjoy an “earn while you learn” model, and those who complete their program can land an average starting salary of $86,000 per year â $20,000 more than that of recent college graduates.
These are significant steps toward closing our nations of approximately 700,000 jobs. But its also significant because of the lives were impacting.
Brent Davis is one such example. For years, Brent struggled to provide for his family â until a friend urged him to apply to the in Virginia. Brent was accepted as a boilermaker apprentice, eventually becoming a journeyman in the shipyard and then an official Shop 41 Boilermaker. Brent graduated with glowing marks across the board for his workmanship. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, he was nominated for the Department of Labor and Industrys Division of Registered Apprenticeship Outstanding Apprentice of the Year.
Shane Siler of has a similar story.
