A Biden administration plan to promote diversity and equity in workplace apprenticeship programs is encountering resistance from Republican attorneys general in two dozen states who argue it could lead to race-based discrimination. The U.S. Department of Labor is advocating for a revision of the National Apprenticeship System rules, the first since 2008, with the aim of modernizing and diversifying on-the-job-training programs while enhancing their quality and safeguarding new workers.
The proposed rule change has become a focal point of political discord over perceptions of fairness and opportunity in educational institutions and workplaces. President Joe Biden and many Democratic-led states are pushing for greater consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while numerous Republican officials are seeking to eliminate such initiatives.
The proposal has drawn objections from various quarters, including business groups asserting that it could escalate costs, curtail flexibility, and ultimately reduce participation. Among the contentious aspects is the requirement for at least 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, eliminating the option for workers to finish sooner based on demonstrated competence.
Registered apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or state agencies engage over 640,000 individuals, offering paid on-the-job training and education across diverse fields such as construction, public administration, education, and manufacturing. Current statistics indicate that nearly 85% of participants are male and about 60% are white.
The proposed rule mandates that apprenticeship program sponsors develop strategies for recruiting, hiring, and retaining individuals from 'underserved communities,' encompassing women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, military veterans, individuals with specific religious beliefs, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Republican attorneys general argue that this approach could conflict with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last year that invalidated race as a factor in college admissions, thereby striking down affirmative action programs.
Furthermore, the proposed rule would require each state apprenticeship agency to formulate a plan for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, potentially conflicting with prohibitions in some Republican-led states. Utah recently enacted a law prohibiting government agencies and universities from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, characterizing policies based on personal identity characteristics as discriminatory practices.
Republican-led state legislatures have introduced around 60 bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives this year, while Democratic-led legislatures have put forth approximately half that number in support of such initiatives.
