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Every day more Michigan employers are joining the “Race to Talent™.” Inside Track shares how these partners distinguish their current training in “Registered Apprenticeship Programs”, to help them win the race.
In Michigan, an employer can turn their existing training into Registered Apprenticeship Program as easy as 1, 2, 3!
GET READY – GET SET – GROW!
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In today’s competitive market, the instinct is often to "buy" talent by hiring experienced pros from the outside. However, the data suggests a smarter path: "growing your own" talent through internal development by turning existing training into a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Traditional recruiting can often "tax" businesses, draining resources through high agency fees, loss of productivity during vacancies, and the risk of a poor cultural fit. Registered Apprenticeship flips this model.
Instead of paying for the search, employers invest in a person. This shifts your payroll from a recurring expense to a long-term financial asset—a skilled, loyal employee who understands your unique operations.
How the two strategies stack up:
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Metric
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Traditional Recruiting
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"Grow Your Own" with Registered Apprenticeship
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Upfront Costs
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High: Agency fees, job boards and heavy advertising.
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Low: Curriculum development and internal mentor time.
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Productivity Gap
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High: Significant time lost waiting for a new hire to reach full competency.
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Low: Learning happens on the job; employees contribute while they train.
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Retention Rate
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Lower: Higher risk of "job hopping" as hires seek the next highest bidder.
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Higher: Increased loyalty and a deeper alignment with company culture.
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Turnover Cost
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1.5 to 2 times the annual salary of the departing employee.
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Significantly Reduced: Built-in career paths keep talent in-house longer.
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Ready to turn your existing training into a Registered Apprenticeship Program? Follow the three easy steps to have your own program!
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Get Ready
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Get Set
- Join a Group Sponsor or start your own
- Confirm Related Instruction
- Identify mentors & select apprentices
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Grow
- Transfer critical knowledge & skills
- Offer industry-recognized credentials
- Retain current & attract new employees
For more information on the three steps to Registered Apprenticeship, go to Michigan.gov/Apprenticeship or email apprenticeship@michigan.gov.
Explore the following funding opportunities designed to expand Registered Apprenticeships:
Award Winner Spotlight: The Apprentice Who Became a Foreman
Nathan didn't just complete his Registered Apprenticeship Program, he transformed it into a leadership pathway. Learn how the 2025 MASCI Excellence in Apprenticeship Award for Construction winner rose to a foreman position within two years and why his commitment to safety and reliability makes him the blueprint for Registered Apprenticeship talent development.
Read Nathan’s story here.
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Midwest Steel’s Talent Strategy
Discover how Detroit-based Midwest Steel leverages Registered Apprenticeships to fuel its leadership pipeline and project success. From the job site to the corporate office, see why "growing your own" talent is the secret to their 55-year legacy of safety and excellence.
Read the full story here.
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If you have a Registered Apprenticeship success story or want to highlight your company's work with Registered Apprenticeships, please send a request to apprenticeship@michigan.gov.
If you would like to be featured as a partner or know someone who should be featured, please let us know by emailing apprenticeship@michigan.gov.
Detroit Home Builders’ MARC Success
Detroit Home Builders recently graduated its first MARC I pre-apprenticeship cohort. By partnering with Henry Ford College and SEMCA Michigan Works!, they’ve created a validated pipeline of OSHA-certified, job-ready talent. Discover how this MARC endorsed pre-apprenticeship training bridges the skills gap and prepares workers for direct entry into Registered Apprenticeships.
Read the full story here.
Ready to fill your talent pipeline? Discover how to become MARC-endorsed and gain access to a pool of job-ready candidates by visiting the MARC webpage.
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Michigan Apprenticeship Readiness Certification
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development (LEO-WD), based on guidance from the Michigan Apprenticeship Advisory Body, endorses high-quality apprenticeship readiness programs with a Michigan Apprenticeship Readiness Certification (MARC).
The MARC is an official endorsement that acts as a quality stamp for Apprenticeship Readiness programming. It confirms that an Apprenticeship Readiness program completer has the foundational skills employers suggest are essential for entry into and successful completion of a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
MARC endorsement levels are not sequential. They are distinct program endorsements, each with their own specific value.
MARC LEADERBOARD Table
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Want your Apprenticeship Readiness Program endorsed? Complete the MARC Interest Form.
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Successful Race to Talent™ events bring together business, labor, education, community and workforce development leaders who contribute to an in-depth discussion around stakeholder benefits from using the Registered Apprenticeship training model to grow needed talent for business success. Event participants contribute by following a structured outline proven to:
- Raise Awareness of the numerous stakeholders benefits the training model provides
- Recognize Partners by introducing those in the region and/or sectors already using the model to accelerate skill development and business success
- Recruit New Partners whose organizations can benefit from using the training model
Guide Star’s Tech Talent Win
Guide Star earned the title of a Registered Apprenticeship Champion during the Jan. 14, 2026, Race to Talent™ event. Discover how their strategic partnership with Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District and UP Michigan Works! produced talent for the IT industry.
Read the full story here.
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Michigan Works! West Central Race to Talent™ Event
Hosted By: Michigan Works! West Central
Location: Smugglers at North Shore (864 East 88th Street, Newaygo, MI, 49337)
Date: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Please join us for this Race to Talent™ Event, where we will celebrate and recognize employers with USDOL Registered Apprenticeship Programs!
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration where employers, apprentices and graduates, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs.
Visit the ApprenticeshhipUSA website to submit an event or proclamation.
Thank you to all partners who hosted an event or wrote a proclamation during 2025 NAW. We’d like to extend a special thank you to the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights for hosting 164 events. Their commitment and efforts are truly impressive and inspiring and we are deeply grateful for everyone’s hard work.
December 17, 2025: DESC hosted a Race to Talent™ event where Michigan’s hospitality leaders came together to strengthen the talent pipeline. Registered Apprenticeships Programs were explored, and attendees gained the tools to launch successful programs and drive impactful changes for their workforce.
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Resources to help you get started in Registered Apprenticeship.
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The one-stop national source for connecting career seekers, employers, and education partners with national apprenticeship resources. Discover Registered Apprenticeships across industries, how programs are started by employers, and how to become an apprentice.
Contact your local Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinator to assist your company with developing a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Want to learn more about Registered Apprenticeship? Please use the link to be contacted by a local Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinator who can answer any questions you may have about RAPS.
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The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) provides the connections, expertise and innovative solutions to drive continued business growth, build vibrant communities, create affordable housing, generate tourism and attract and retain key talent to fill Michigan’s vast pipeline of opportunities. LEO’s mission statement is to expand economic opportunity and prosperity for all.
Find information about employers, labor trades and training providers approved for veteran educational benefits through the GI Bill.
This website serves as a resource where employers can find preliminary information about MiOSHA reported fatalities, enabling them to build more hazard awareness and reduce the risk of similar workplace incidents.
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