New Healthcare Apprenticeship Initiative Puts the Focus on Employers

Key Takeaways

• UW Health WorkForward is the first employer‑led apprenticeship intermediary in healthcare
• Initiative targets technical assistance, policy advocacy, and research for employer apprenticeships
• U.S. spent $30 billion on temporary staffing in 2025, highlighting cost pressures
• Partnerships already underway in Massachusetts, with plans for 4‑6 regions by 2025
• Policy push seeks tax credits and wage support to fund health apprenticeships

Pulse Analysis

The healthcare sector faces a persistent talent crunch, with staffing shortages driving a $30 billion spend on temporary and traveler personnel in 2025. Despite apprenticeships accounting for only about 5% of registered programs nationwide, they have shown steady growth in high‑need roles such as surgical technology, respiratory therapy, and nursing. Employers often overlook apprenticeships, assuming they are limited to trades, which stalls the development of a domestic talent pipeline that could lower turnover and improve patient outcomes.

UW Health WorkForward tackles this gap by positioning employers at the center of apprenticeship design. Led by Eric Dunker and Bridgett Willey, the venture provides hands‑on consulting, policy navigation, and data‑driven research to health systems eager to launch their own programs. Early pilots in Massachusetts involve twelve community colleges and three large health employers, creating degree‑granting pathways that blend classroom learning with on‑the‑job training. The model’s “speed‑dating” outreach aims to replicate this collaborative framework across four to six additional states by next year, accelerating the scaling of apprenticeship ecosystems.

Beyond direct employer support, the initiative is lobbying for federal and state policy reforms that would make funding more accessible. Partnerships with Apprenticeships for America and CareerWise focus on tax credits, wage subsidies, and grant mechanisms that lower the financial barrier for smaller health providers. By aligning incentives with workforce needs, the program could shift the industry away from short‑term staffing solutions toward a more stable, skilled labor force, ultimately delivering cost savings and higher quality care.