Pennsylvania invests $4.2 million in new training programs, apprenticeships
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) has invested about $2.4 million in six organizations to launch new training programs, one of which is for welding apprenticeships in Philadelphia County.
Another nine organizations will receive nearly $1.8 million to expand existing training programs across various sectors, including manufacturing and robotics.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget also contains investments in vo-tech classes and hands-on education initiatives brought back to Pennsylvania schools under his administration, according to a press release from the department.
Workforce development investments made in the budget include $12.5 million for apprenticeship training programs, $3.5 million for the Schools-to-Work program, and $2.8 million for industry partnerships. According to L&I, Schools-to-Work is an L&I grant program that focuses on developing and expanding career pathways for underserved populations through partnerships between schools, employers, organizations, and associations, providing pre-apprenticeship and job training for students.
“Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of so many industries here in Pennsylvania, and investing in the workers who power that sector is essential to keeping our economy strong,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker, in the release. “This funding will help more Pennsylvanians access high-quality training, earn industry-recognized credentials, and step into good-paying careers that are built to last.”
Established in 2016, L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) currently supports 138 registered pre-apprenticeship programs and 1,417 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth, with 15,965 active registered apprentices.
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