The operation of the U.S. Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training was examined to determine the following: (1) the use of apprenticeship to train workers; (2) federal and state resources dedicated to administering apprenticeship; and (3) the representation of minorities and women in apprenticeship. Information was obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor on federal apprenticeship expenditures and operations, from a survey of the 50 state directors and the heads of the 30 state and territorial apprenticeship agencies, and from the bureau's administrative data. The study found that there are relatively few apprentices (283,000 in 1990) and that their numbers are declining, whereas about 1.4 million students are enrolled in colleges. Public resources for apprenticeship have declined to about 70 percent of the 1980 support level. Minority and female apprentices tend to be concentrated in lower-paying occupations, and there are very few women apprentices--about 7 percent of the total. Recommendations were made for the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and the Women's Bureau to identify actions to improve the outreach to and recruitment of women into apprenticeships; however, no specific guidance or directives were issued. (Appendixes include lists of the 68 occupations with the largest numbers of apprentices, minority and female apprentices' occupations by earnings, percentage of female apprentices by occupations, comments from the Department of Labor, and a list of major contributors to the report.) (KC)