Strengthening Apprenticeship Across New Jersey Through Collaboration
The New Jersey Apprenticeship-Technical Assistance Collaborative (NJ A-TAC) was a three-year statewide initiative (2023-2025) that supported the growth and expansion of Registered Apprenticeship in New Jersey.
As AIR concludes its engagement with NJ A-TAC in June 2025, the legacy of this work includes a strengthened apprenticeship ecosystem, new tools and resources for practitioners, and a strategic roadmap for continued innovation and expansion in New Jersey’s workforce development landscape.”
- Chris Herzog, Project Director
Led by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, in partnership with AIR and Jobs for the Future and funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor, NJ A-TAC provided technical assistance, research, and implementation support to modernize and expand apprenticeship opportunities across the state.
AIR engaged in this opportunity by
- Conducting research to raise awareness and highlight promising practices in Registered Apprenticeship;
- Building institutional capacity to implement Registered Apprenticeship programs; and
- Identifying and disseminating solutions to expand access and opportunity.
Key Accomplishments
- Delivered two system assessments and five training webinars;
- Hosted three statewide events, including the 2024 Spring Registered Apprenticeship Convening and the 2025 New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit;
- Created six implementation resources, including desk references and infographics on pathways and funding; and
- Engaged employers through focus groups and developed a simplified process map to support employer participation.
AIR’s engagement with NJ A-TAC concluded with a set of ten strategic recommendations across six focus areas—Align, Diversify, Impact, Inspire, Resource, and Simplify—to guide future efforts in embedding Registered Apprenticeship within New Jersey’s workforce and education systems.
