WASHINGTON − As the 2024 election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump may have many disagreements, but they share a common view on one important issue: promoting more opportunities for young Americans to enter apprenticeships and trade schools.

Recently, Harris stated her intention to eliminate college degree prerequisites for certain federal jobs and to encourage private employers to adopt similar practices if she wins in November.

While speaking to an audience in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania—a former mining hub—she emphasized that the U.S. has “for too long” advocated a singular path to success: obtaining a four-year degree.

Harris remarked, “Our country must appreciate the significance of alternative routes,” highlighting the value of apprenticeships and vocational programs in this crucial swing state.

Trump, too, has promoted similar initiatives.

During his presidency, he signed an executive order in 2020 that directed federal agencies to prioritize job applicants’ skills rather than requiring a college degree. This policy has notably remained intact under President Joe Biden’s administration.

This emerging bipartisan emphasis comes in the context of shifting American views on higher education over the past decade.

As college costs have soared, the number of enrollments in undergraduate programs has sharply declined, prompting politicians across party lines to explore alternative approaches to enhance workforce training.

According to 2023 Census Bureau data, nearly two-thirds of Americans over 25 lack a bachelor’s degree. A survey from New America revealed that 66% of respondents felt they could secure good, stable jobs with only a high school diploma or GED, a significant increase from the 50% who believed the same in 2018.

The evolution of thought

Bipartisan backing for apprenticeships isn’t a new phenomenon. In the late 1980s and 1990s, there was considerable enthusiasm for expanding and strengthening apprenticeship opportunities.

However, as college graduates’ pay increased compared to trade salaries in the early 2000s, many high school students were funneled into pursuing four-year degrees.

During his 2009 address to Congress, former President Barack Obama encouraged Americans to pursue higher education and aimed for the U.S. to attain the highest percentage of college graduates globally by 2020.

This resulted in a steady rise in college enrollment. From 2000 to 2019, the number of Americans pursuing traditional college education surged by approximately 28%.

Shifts in perspectives

Both Democrats and Republicans have shown support for non-college pathways, even enacting the 2015 American Apprenticeship Initiative, which allocated over $100 million to grow registered apprenticeships in new industries. Nevertheless, the emphasis still largely remained on traditional higher education.

Will Marshall, founder of the Progressive Policy Institute, recalls being criticized by some leftist peers for not fully endorsing college-for-all strategies. Instead, he advocated for public funding to support apprenticeships and career paths outside of college.

Marshall noted that the narrative began to shift after Trump’s election in 2016.

“People began to notice what I believe is a significant change in national politics—the polarization of the political parties based on educational backgrounds,” Marshall pointed out.

That election year, Trump gained substantial support from voters who did not have college degrees, while his opponent, Hillary Clinton, attracted more college-educated voters.

Marshall remarked that the outcome served as a significant realization for progressives.

“It became clear that many individuals without college degrees, including staunch Trump supporters, prefer short-term training and certification options to enter the job market,” Marshall noted.

The escalating costs of higher education made alternatives like apprenticeships, community colleges, and vocational training more appealing. Between 2010 and 2023, the tuition fees at public four-year universities increased by over 35%. Meanwhile, apprenticeships remain free, often providing an opportunity to earn while you learn.

‘Real income’ with no student loans

Sarah Jones, 21, shares that this reality influenced her decision not to pursue a college degree and instead enter an apprenticeship with the Steamfitters Local 602 in Maryland right after high school in 2022. She preferred hands-on work and observed that her father, a garbage truck driver, earned a good living without a college education.

Now in her third year as an apprentice specializing in HVAC systems, she earns over $30 an hour and considers her choice to join the program one of her best life decisions.

“I won’t have any college debt,” Jones stated. “People need to compare their college debt with the salaries they expect after graduation . I’ll finish my apprenticeship just a year after others graduate, and I’ll be earning a solid income at 23.”

According to the Department of Labor, over 90% of individuals completing a registered apprenticeship achieve an average starting salary of $77,000 annually.

Nitzan Pelman, CEO of Climb Together, an organization focused on helping low-income individuals secure good jobs, believes the rising expenses and diminishing returns of a college education contribute significantly to the growing bipartisan agreement on this issue.

“Republicans appreciate hard work and free-market principles, while Democrats are becoming increasingly aware of the challenges regarding education affordability,” she pointed out. “This common ground enables collaboration between both parties.”

Policies from Harris and Trump

Both Trump and Harris have indicated that they would support allowing individuals without four-year degrees to qualify for certain federal jobs. They have also put forth initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of apprenticeship programs.

However, their bipartisan agreement begins to wane when discussions shift to the intricate policy mechanisms behind these proposals.

Marshall observed, “We are in an era of extreme partisanship, where even non-ideological issues can become contentious due to a lack of cooperation.”

For example, in 2021, the Biden administration repealed a Trump-era regulation that allowed industry and trade groups to manage their own apprenticeship programs, arguing that these were often of lower quality than those sanctioned by the Department of Labor.

Instead, in 2024, the Biden administration proposed a new rule to enhance and broaden the National Apprenticeship System. Republican critics contend that this approach would impose excessive regulations and a uniform standard for apprenticeships nationwide.

There are currently various bipartisan proposals in Congress aimed at expanding apprenticeship frameworks. The National Apprenticeship Act, which seeks to fund workforce development initiatives, has successfully passed the House multiple times but has consistently stalled in the Senate.

According to Marshall, achieving workforce solutions under the next president, whether it’s Trump or Harris, will require some compromise.

“People are exploring alternative career paths,” he stated. “It’s crucial for our political leaders to create a system that allows non-degree holders to earn and learn on par with traditional post-secondary education.”