National Apprenticeship Week 2026: Explore How we are Building a Skilled Workforce Through Apprenticeships!

From April 26 to May 2, 2026, Cushman & Wakefield is proud to celebrate the National Apprenticeship Week. This nationwide event highlights the value of Registered Apprenticeship programs and the important role they play in developing a skilled workforce for today and the future.

At Cushman & Wakefield, our theme for National Apprenticeship Week is “Hands that build, minds that lead.” This message reflects our company-wide commitment to apprenticeships and what they represent, including hands-on and classroom learning, leadership development, and long-term career growth across our Facilities Maintenance teams.

What Is National Apprenticeship Week?

National Apprenticeship Week is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor and brings together employers, workforce partners, educators, and apprentices to showcase how Registered Apprenticeships create strong career pathways.

Registered Apprenticeships help individuals gain real-world experience, earn a wage while they learn, and develop skills that meet industry needs. They also help employers build a dependable, highly trained workforce. Beginning in 2026, National Apprenticeship Week will be held each spring as part of a national effort to enroll one million apprentices across the country.

Why Apprenticeships Matter at Cushman & Wakefield

Apprenticeships are a key part of Cushman & Wakefield’s workforce strategy within facilities management and facility services. They allow us to grow talent from within while delivering consistent, high-quality service to our clients.

Our apprenticeship program delivers a 40 percent higher quality of hire compared to traditional roles and graduated apprentices remain with the company for an average of 5.4 years. Because apprentices are developed internally, they gain a deep understanding of our safety standards, culture, and client expectations.

This approach reflects our commitment to being driven by purpose and strong outcomes.

Building a Resilient Workforce for the Future

Workforce stability continues to be a challenge across the facility services industry overall due to turnover and risk of losing employees to retirement and the ever-increasing skilled trades labor gap.

Our apprenticeships help address these challenges by building long-term talent pipelines and supporting knowledge transfer through mentorship from experienced professionals to the next generation. This strengthens our service continuity, protects client delivery, and helps position our facility services teams for long-term success.

Creating Accessible Career Opportunities

Cushman & Wakefield apprenticeships are designed to create access to meaningful careers within facility services for people from a wide range of backgrounds. Apprentices earn wages while learning on the job, receive structured training (often leading to a certification), and benefit from mentorship throughout their development.

Our Apprenticeships support clear advancement opportunities while promoting stronger engagement and job satisfaction for both apprentices and mentors. By creating accessible pathways into skilled facility services careers, we build stronger teams and more resilient operations.

A Clear Career Path in Facility Services

Our Apprenticeships offer a clear and achievable career journey within facility services.

Our apprentices can even come from Maintenance Level 1 roles such as Maintenance Assistant, Handyperson, or Janitor/Cleaner. They can then advance into the Maintenance Apprentice program, where they develop technical skills in areas such as HVAC, electrical, building engineering, mechatronics, and general maintenance.

Career progression continues through Maintenance Levels 2 through 5, including Maintenance Technician, Senior or Lead Technician, Supervisor, and Superintendent roles. This structure allows individuals to see how hands-on experience can lead to leadership opportunities within our facility services organization.

A Smart Investment with Measurable Results

Apprenticeships are also a smart investment across our facility services operations. Apprentice wages begin at a lower wage of an entry level skilled trades worker’s wages, providing cost efficiency while skills are developed. The program improves compliance with account-mandated staffing requirements and gives hiring leaders back approximately five hours per week that were previously spent on recruiting activities.

Apprentices contribute from their first day by supporting entry-level tasks, allowing skilled facility services professionals to focus on higher-value technical work. This improves productivity, reduces burnout, and strengthens overall team morale.

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026

Throughout National Apprenticeship Week, daily themes will highlight workforce growth, innovation, technology and AI in apprenticeships, education and workforce alignment, and youth pathways into skilled careers.

Cushman & Wakefield is proud to support these efforts and contribute to the nationwide expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs across the US and facility services.

Hands That Build, Minds That Lead

At Cushman & Wakefield, apprenticeships bring our values to life. They strengthen our facility services workforce, support leadership development, and ensure the future of the built environment is supported by knowledgeable, skilled professionals.

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we recognize the amazing apprentices, mentors, and leaders whose hands maintain our homes and buildings we step into every day and whose minds lead our Maintenance Teams forward.

Learn more about Cushman & Wakefield Apprenticeships: Here!

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