As part of the Apprenticeship Wall Project launched in 2024, Michigan has started placing interactive “apprenticeship walls” in high schools to make registered apprenticeship pathways easy to find and follow. Each wall highlights 12 to 18 in-demand occupations and includes QR codes that link students to short videos, program details, application pages, and local employer contacts. The Michigan Department of Education funds the project and Eaton Regional Education Service Agency is the fiscal agent coordinating delivery and installation with local districts.

The wall is designed for high-traffic areas inside high schools where students, families, and community members can scan codes and learn how apprenticeships work, what wages and benefits look like, and how to apply. Participating districts may also receive a stipend to offset training and event costs. These features make the project a practical outreach tool for employers looking to build talent pipelines.

A number of Michigan schools and career centers; including Grand Ledge High School, Brighton Area Schools, Hamilton Community Schools, Calhoun Area Career Center, and Troy Athens High School have already installed apprenticeship walls or announced plans to do so.

“There was a need to fill a hole for students not interested or not able to go to college for various reasons,” said Tanya Clark, the newly appointed K-12 Career Readiness and CTE Curriculum Coordinator for Brighton Area Schools. “The trades are a viable, rewarding option for many of our students. Having instant access to this information empowers them to take those next steps.”

If your organization offers apprenticeships, here are a few ways to take part:

1. Reach out to local high schools and the regional RESA to ask about walls in your area and offer to be a contact for apprenticeship information posted on QR links. Eaton RESA is coordinating the project and can help connect your organization to awardees.
2. Sponsor or provide materials for the community event required after installation. Events are an efficient way to meet prospective apprentices, introduce company hiring processes, and explain benefits and advancement.
3. Make sure your apprenticeships are easy to apply for on mobile devices. The walls rely on QR-driven, on-the-spot engagement. If your application process is cumbersome on phones, you may lose candidates.
4. Track impact. Ask schools what data they will collect from the wall survey and offer to share hiring outcomes so both districts and employers can measure return on engagement.

Apprenticeships provide a paid, competency-based alternative to traditional post-secondary routes. For employers, they are a predictable way to grow skilled labor while reducing turnover and training costs. The Apprenticeship Wall Project makes that information discoverable by students and makes it easy for them to get more information.

Sources: Michigan.gov; WSYM, WHMI, WDIV