U.S. Expands Apprenticeships with Colorado and Alabama

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is set to announce a new partnership with Colorado and Alabama aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship programs.

Both states have received a total of $12.5 million in funding from the DOL. This funding will help them develop resources and improve education pathways. According to a news release, the goal is to make apprenticeship registrations more efficient and enhance skill training opportunities for young people.

“The growth of our registered apprenticeship system relies heavily on collaboration between federal and state levels,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer in a statement. She emphasized the administration’s commitment to fulfilling President Trump’s vision of creating 1 million new apprenticeships across the nation. It seems there’s a push to increase local resources significantly.

Chavez-Deremer continued, noting, “This partnership between Alabama and Colorado will give young people better access to registered apprenticeships and streamline the process of creating new opportunities that align with local business needs.”

As part of the DOL’s agreement with Alabama, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education will work on enhancing workforce training solutions by simplifying enrollment and lowering startup costs for new programs. Meanwhile, Colorado’s agreement includes developing new tools aimed at expanding the number of registered apprentices.

Overall, the Trump administration is actively working to bolster registered apprenticeships this year, aiming to meet the significant goal of 1 million new active apprentices. Since Trump’s presidency began, over 134,000 new apprentices have already been registered in the U.S., according to DOL data from June.

In April, the president signed an executive order intended to prepare Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs. This order aims to reinforce and expand registered apprenticeships, focusing on creating new opportunities for American workers.