This year, the state of Pennsylvania has made significant investments into workforce opportunities, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Secretary Nancy Walker said.
“This has been a great year for Pennsylvania workers and employers who value fair wages, safe work environments and real economic freedom. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we’ve made historic investments in Pennsylvania’s most valuable asset – our workforce,” Walker said. “Looking ahead, I am confident L&I will continue to lead the charge of supporting and creating smart, innovative ways to invest in our workers while taking on the challenges of today and preparing for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Walker said the investments and initiatives this year support Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to creating new family-sustaining jobs for workers across the state in all industries.
Those investments included: $23.5 million for workforce training through career and technical education and vocational technology programs, $6 million for apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs, and $3.5 million in a schools-to-work program that develops and expands career pathways for high school students via partnerships between schools, employers, organizations and the state.
Additionally, earlier this year, Shapiro signed an executive order creating the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program that will create new opportunities for workers and help expand Pennsylvania’s workforce, officials said. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the program offers employers grants up to $40,000 for each new employee hired and trained in the state for critical infrastructure project, up to a maximum of $400,000.
The state also invested $4 million in Industry Partnership grants to strengthen workforce development in some sectors, and invested $1.2 million for Nursing Pathway Industry Partnership Grants and $800,000 in Veterans Employment Program Grants.