In 2026, Virco's apprenticeship program in Arkansas trains workers like Caleb Moss with paid on-the-job learning, aligning with Trump's goal to expand apprenticeships, though progress has stalled despite initial growth.

In 2026, Virco Manufacturing in Conway, Arkansas, is running a three-year tool and die apprenticeship program, where employee Caleb Moss balances early morning factory shifts with daytime classes at Pulaski Technical College, earning wages for both. The initiative reflects President Trump’s goal to expand registered apprenticeships to 1 million from about 700,000, promoting paid on-the-job training as a path to skilled careers. While federal funding helped grow apprenticeships nearly 80% over the past decade, especially in health care and IT, progress has stalled despite strong rhetoric, with critics citing canceled grants, no new funding requests, and a lack of sustained action.