The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is set to expand workforce opportunities after the U.S. Department of Labor granted over $1 million to support the state’s registered apprenticeship programs. This funding aims to enhance training and employment across emerging industries. The Healey-Driscoll Administration plans to use this grant to further integrate apprenticeships as a key strategy for building a strong, competitive workforce throughout the state, as noted in a Mass.gov press release.
During a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Council, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced the award totaling $1,052,584, a move that underscores the state's push under Governor Maura Healey's leadership to grow apprenticeship opportunities that deliver good-paying jobs, and this commitment is aligned with the administration's wider infrastructure agenda, which includes projects ranging from roads and bridges to clean energy initiatives. According to the Governor, "We’re grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and USDOL for providing these critical funds to build the workforce we need to deliver on key infrastructure projects, from roads and bridges to clean energy and resiliency in Massachusetts," as mentioned in the same press release.
The funding forms part of the broader drive by the Biden-Harris Administration to develop apprenticeships nationwide and is earmarked as the second round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula funding from the department, with a special focus on inclusivity for groups such as women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and underrepresented communities. It is intended to assist states in engaging industry partners and establishing career pathways that reflect the skills demands within their local labor markets.
Massachusetts labor officials, including Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, are ready to put this new funding to work by creating meaningful career pathways through apprenticeship programs. They recognize the importance of these programs in closing skills gaps and tapping into untapped talent pools across the state. As she stated, "As part of our workforce agenda, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is bridging partnerships through strategies like Registered Apprenticeship to close skills gaps and create more pathways for untapped talent in Massachusetts," as reported by Mass.gov. In the recent fiscal year, the state has allocated nearly $3.5 million to bolster registered apprenticeships in sectors like healthcare and advanced manufacturing, further diversifying the scope and reach of these initiatives.
This financial injection will complement previously announced state efforts, which included a $5 million Apprenticeship Expansion and Opportunity Grant and a $1 billion tax cut package that expanded eligibility for the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit, sweetening the pot for employers with a $4,800 credit per apprentice hired. The move marks significant support from both state and federal levels for vocational training programs as a pathway to employment in Massachusetts's evolving economic landscape.
