Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The availability of many middle skill jobs has declined in the past few decades in the U.S. On the other hand, employment at the far ends of the spectrum—both low-skill and high-skill—has increased, contributing to rising inequality. Some advanced middle skill jobs are in-demand but workers’ human capital has reportedly not matched employers’ needs. Germany’s dual apprenticeship program has been hailed as a possible model to combat middle skill job decline in the U.S. Enrollment in these programs is falling in Germany, however, as more young people choose higher education. Using SOEP and employment data and the literature, I examine the effectiveness of German apprenticeships in filling middle skill jobs, along with the institutional factors that may explain program outcomes. Next I compare these findings to the United States. How effective are the reemerging apprenticeship programs in the United States in boosting middle skill employment? What lessons can we apply from Germany?