DEIA Pledge

 Apprenticeship Illinois Homepage  

A nationwide call to action was created by Jobs for the Future (JFF), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), to address the opportunity gap within apprenticeships and create greater access for underrepresented groups in apprenticeships. The Business Pledge to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in Registered Apprenticeships calls for business leaders, policymakers, advocacy groups, and other apprenticeship stakeholders to support DEIA strategies in recruiting, selecting, and training apprentices.


By taking the pledge, your business joins a community of local, state, and national employers and labor partners that believe in removing barriers to increase access and opportunity to underrepresented populations in high-quality Registered Apprenticeships. Gain access to tools, resources, and information to help increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in your apprenticeship program. JFF may contact you to participate in events or be featured in materials highlighting promising practices advancing DEIA practices in Registered Apprenticeships.

 JFF DEIA Pledge



The Pledge
I, the undersigned, pledge on behalf of COMPANY to support a set of principles and practices to ensure that all Americans have access and opportunity to succeed in the workplace through the proven pathway of Registered Apprenticeships. I pledge to work towards removing barriers that may prevent qualified women, people of color, people with disabilities, workers who live in rural communities, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system from gaining access to high-quality apprenticeships, training, education, and good jobs/wages.

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Take Action
To fulfill the pledge, your company can take action to achieve the goals of promoting opportunity for all, eliminating barriers to entry into apprenticeship, and providing meaningful opportunities to succeed for people underrepresented in apprenticeship:
​Revise Recruitment and Talent Attraction Strategies:
  • Conduct purposeful/intentional outreach to underrepresented apprenticeship groups, such as workforce boards, community colleges, organizations, and minority-serving universities.

Take Action in Your Local Community:
  • Start a Registered Apprenticeship program reflecting the demographics of the community.
  • Provide apprentices, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, access to continued learning, development, and advancement opportunities that support career development and provide more equitable outcomes.
  • Conduct outreach to and support apprenticeships within local K-12 school districts, community organizations, community colleges, workforce boards, minority-serving institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
 ​Promote Fair and Equitable Hiring Practices:
  • Engage human resource staff and hiring managers in implementing contemporary DEIA practices and make fair decisions without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, or background.
  • Review and revise HR policies and practices to remove barriers.
  • Reach out to local workforce agencies, community-based organizations, colleges, and others to recruit a wide range of talent.
  • Lead, join, or host apprenticeship opportunity events within your company or community.
  • Share promising best practices and success stories.

Set an Example for Other Businesses:
  • Promote your commitment to the pledge.
  • Share and disseminate successes and lessons learned with JFF and DOL to encourage employers/stakeholders to reduce barriers that contribute to advancing apprenticeships for all Americans.