About NC Career Launch
Career Launch is North Carolina's Youth Apprenticeship System led by the Office of the Governor and the NC Business Committee for Education. Originally funded by the US Department of Labor, this program supports the creation, implementation, and expansion of youth apprenticeship programs for high school students. Using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds, Governor Josh Stein is expanding the program with greater connection to NCWorks, our state's workforce system.
Partnership with workforce boards, community colleges, ApprenticeshipNC, and the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is essential to Career Launch's success. The initial focus of the program is to serve students in registered pre-apprenticeship programs in the summer of 2026 in select regions and then expand statewide in the years that follow.
"Youth apprenticeships unlock doors of opportunity for the next generation. Eleventh and twelfth graders have serious decisions to make about their futures. It's our job to provide them with real options – options that offer meaningful career paths and hope for their futures. I am proud to support Career Launch, a program that supports students and employers alike while meeting North Carolina's workforce needs."
– Governor Josh Stein
