The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $1.8 million ApprenticeshipUSA grant to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to develop and expand apprenticeship programs in California.
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According to a press release from the DIR, the federal grant will bolster the DIR and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards’ (DAS) plan to double the number of registered apprentices over the next 10 years; to engage nontraditional, emerging, and high-growth industries in apprenticeship; and increase opportunities for women and low-income groups.
“Apprenticeship programs are one of the best paths that workers can choose to find world-class on-the-job training that leads to good-paying careers,” said California Labor and Workforce Development Secretary David M. Lanier. “California is home to the nation’s largest and fastest-growing apprenticeship system, and this funding will help us expand opportunities for jobs that lead families to the middle class.”
California has more than 73,000 active apprentices, the most in the nation.
“The grant recognizes California’s commitment to apprenticeship and the investment needed to ensure our state will meet the needs for skilled labor in the near future,” said DIR Director Christine Baker. “This funding will allow us to expand into new industries and offer more career opportunities to workers.”
Key activities supported by the $1.8 million grant include:
- Business engagement in key industries, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, information and communication technology, and healthcare;
- Increased diversity and equity in apprenticeship opportunities targeting women, minorities, people with disabilities, and lower-income groups; and
- Development of a robust data management system to track apprenticeship program performance and outcomes.
You can read the full DIR press release here.