Ohio continues to expand its apprenticeship and workforce training programs, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ newly released annual report for State Fiscal Year 2026.

ODJFS says Ohio now ranks third in the nation and first in the Midwest in the number of apprentices, with more than 23,000 people enrolled in registered apprenticeship programs.

Registered apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. ODJFS says participants complete at least 2,000 hours of structured on-the-job training along with 144 hours of classroom instruction, typically through a college or university. 

The state currently has more than 470 registered apprenticeship programs covering more than 200 occupations, including construction, energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, computer programming and teaching. 

Ohio also has more than 330 pre-apprenticeship programs, including more than 100 programs geared toward young people between the ages of 16 and 20.

ODJFS reports that the number of pre-apprenticeship programs grew by nearly 40 percent during State Fiscal Year 2026. 

The report also highlights workforce efforts tied to Ohio’s manufacturing sector.

ODJFS managed two major federal workforce grants during the year, including the Workforce Advancement in Vehicle Electrification, or WAVE, program.

That program is providing training and credentialing for 550 people in western and central Ohio and has supported recruitment efforts connected to the Honda and LG Energy Solution battery plant in Jeffersonville.

The state says the broader effort is designed to build a stronger pipeline of skilled workers for advanced manufacturing and other in-demand industries.