U.S. Department of Labor opens apprenticeship incentive payments for high-growth sectors

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Apprenticeship incentive payments open

Highlights

Registered Apprenticeship sponsors can now apply for pay-for-performance incentive payments in high-growth sectors until funds are fully obligated.
President Trump announced a $40 million Florida-led investment projected to create 10,000 new apprenticeships in shipbuilding and defense by 2024.
In July, the Department of Labor awarded nearly $162 million to five organizations for nationwide job training in sectors including semiconductor, nuclear energy, and information technology.

Funding rollout targets priority industries

As reported by U.S. Department of Labor, citing the Employment and Training Administration, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors can now apply for payments under the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, with applications accepted on a rolling basis until available funds are fully obligated.

The department says the application launch follows President Trump’s announcement on Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, of a $40 million investment led by the Florida Department of Commerce to expand apprenticeships in shipbuilding and the defense industrial base. That initiative is projected to create nearly 10,000 new apprentices over the next four years, while the department says it has already invested nearly $200 million in pay-for-performance incentive funds.

In July, the department awarded nearly $162 million to five organizations to lead nationwide training programs for workers seeking jobs in sectors including shipbuilding, the defense industrial base, super intelligence, semiconductor and nuclear energy infrastructure, telecommunications, information technology, and transportation. Officials say the funding is intended to help employers hire and retain apprentices, reduce barriers to participation, and fill in-demand roles.

Workforce and industry implications

The incentive program builds on the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, a cooperative agreement created to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing across the country. By directing payments to employers and program sponsors, the department is aiming to accelerate worker training in sectors facing sustained labor demand.

During a visit to Florida, U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling appears with Rep. Brian Mast, Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack, and Florida Commerce Deputy Secretary of Economic Development Jason Mahon to highlight the opening of applications and the expected effects on the state’s workforce.

"The Trump Administration is committed to rapidly expanding Registered Apprenticeships as a core strategy to fill jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries," Sonderling says. He adds that direct support for employers and apprenticeship sponsors is the fastest way to help workers enter the labor market while strengthening the broader economy.

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