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The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced it was awarding more than $8.6 million in grant funding to support apprenticeship programs and diversity in construction.

The grants, announced June 15, are being awarded through three programs:

Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS)

GAINS expands the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) approved Registered Apprenticeship programs to support better-paying careers and advanced credential attainment, developing new and existing programs in high-growth industries with a focus on equality of opportunity, upward mobility and economic fairness. With more than two-thirds of participants being women or minorities – twice the average among all apprenticeship programs in the state – GAINS has provided unprecedented opportunities for these groups.

A total of $1.9 million is being awarded to 10 grantees through this round of program funding, with the hopes of placing 169 new apprentices in occupations such as electrician, roofer, plumber, behavioral health aid, hair stylist, cybersecurity analyst, and others.

Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE)

PACE programs prepare participants for Registered Apprenticeship, a post-secondary college or an occupation-specific career training program, or the workforce. It primarily serves to alleviate economic barriers to upskilling, providing job readiness, essential skills and occupation-specific training with funding that can be used to offset participants’ related costs, such as child care and transportation.

More than $2.1 million is being granted through PACE to seven awardees to place 242 apprentices in occupations including clinical medical assistant, operating engineer, supply chain manager, and advanced manufacturing.

New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity (NJBUILD) Women and Minorities in Construction

NJBUILD promotes outreach and occupational skills training, such as pre-apprenticeship training, Registered Apprenticeship, and on-the-job-training for women and minorities, helping them gain workforce readiness and skills to enter a union apprenticeship or employment in a construction-related job with a pay rate of at least $15 per hour.

More than $4.5 million is being granted to nine awardees this round to bring on 352 apprentices in occupations such as HVAC, weatherization, fiber tech, lead abatement, green infrastructure, telecommunications, offshore wind, construction management, and others.

‘These apprenticeship programs work’

The funding builds on the state’s efforts to create and develop work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs across New Jersey through grants, investing more than $50 million toward the effort.

“The simply reality is that these apprenticeship programs work,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “They benefit employers who can create a steady stream of skill-ready workers. They benefit employees who learn valuable skills they can take with them as they build careers with family-sustaining incomes.”

Since Gov. Phil Murphy took office in 2018, 582 new Registered Apprenticeship programs have been created in the Garden State, a 95% increase that has included the on-boarding of more than 14,000 new apprentices.

The state currently has 8,361 active apprentices serving in 1,193, according to the Labor Department.

“Apprenticeships play a vital role in cultivating our workforce and empowering participants to acquire the essential skills they need for securing rewarding employment,” said Murphy. “These grant programs allow apprenticeships that bring invaluable opportunities to underserved individuals, which in turn strengthens our state and promotes fairness.”