Pennsylvania Labor Department announces $1M in grants available for registered apprenticeship programs

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) recently announced that an additional $1 million in grants will be available for registered apprenticeship programs.

Funding will be used to create opportunities to promote diverse talent and reach underrepresented populations within the building and construction trades.

“Labor and Industry is committed to serving the Commonwealth’s workforce by creating greater opportunities and pathways to success for more Pennsylvanians in our apprenticeship programs,” L&I Acting Secretary Nancy Walker said. “Pennsylvania’s economic future depends on a well-educated and highly-trained workforce.”

As a workforce development strategy, registered apprenticeships have a track record of success in advancing workers’ careers but are lagging in serving under-represented populations, L&I reported. In 2022, only 13 percent of completed registered apprenticeships were women, and women represented 15 percent of new apprentices, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Women comprise 10.9 percent of the construction industry.

The application deadline is April 26.

Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $23.8 million investment in apprenticeship programs and workforce training in his budget proposal. He also proposed strengthening skills-building programs.

The L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of Pennsylvania’s registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. It currently supports 868 unduplicated program sponsors and 1,573 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs, with 16,254 registered apprentices currently active.