Massachusetts Selected for National Apprenticeship Initiative

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced that the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) has been awarded a $200,000 grant and selected to participate in the Apprenticeship America cohort through the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center.

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center serves as a national hub supporting states in scaling high-quality youth apprenticeship programs that connect young people (ages 16-24) to career pathways in high-demand industries. Massachusetts was selected through a competitive process alongside nine other states and recognized for its goal of adding 100,000 new apprentices by 2036.

Since January 2023, the Healey-Driscoll administration has awarded $13.5 million in Registered Apprenticeship GROW grants. Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience, including classroom instruction and on-the-job training, combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility and advancement.

“We’re thinking big about the future of Massachusetts’ workforce. That’s why I set a goal to add 100,000 apprentices across our state over the next decade,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “Registered apprenticeships open doors to good-paying careers, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and help employers hire the skilled workers they need to grow and compete. Through the Apprenticeship America initiative, we’re expanding opportunities for young people and continuing to invest in the talent that will drive Massachusetts forward for years to come.”

Apprenticeship America states will receive comprehensive services, including expert-led strategic consulting, national infrastructure toolkits, systemic problem solving, and $200,000 in funding to support these efforts.

“The inclusion of Massachusetts in this program reflects our administration’s continued efforts to expand registered apprenticeship and demonstrate how this strategy is an effective pathway for young talent and for employers to build their workforce,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones said. “We look forward to participating in this program as we stay focused on connecting talent to early careers through Registered Apprenticeship, promoting this hiring model as an effective strategy for employers, and supporting the state’s economic competitiveness.”