Florida Construction News staff writer
Construction firms and other employers now have a smoother path to start or expand apprenticeship programs with newly released guidance from the U.S. Labor Department.
Updates from the department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) are designed to cut red tape, speed up approvals, and give program sponsors more flexibility in designing apprenticeships that fit their workforce. The Office of Apprenticeship says it will make final registration decisions within 30 days.
For more information, join ETA for a public webinar on March 27 at 1pm ET. Register for the webinar on WorkforceGPS. ETA will also release new training modules in the Registered Apprenticeship Academy after the webinar.
“Registered apprenticeships are a proven way to build a skilled workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “By making the system faster and clearer, employers across industries can get high-quality programs off the ground and more Americans into good-paying careers.”
The department issued four key guidance documents covering program design, state agency roles, completion rates and performance transparency.
Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, preparing workers for skilled trades in construction, manufacturing and other industries. The Labor Department said the changes support President Donald Trump’s goal of reaching 1 million active apprentices, making it easier for companies to recruit, train and retain skilled workers.
For contractors, the goal is fewer delays, more flexibility, and a clearer path to grow the construction workforce through apprenticeships.
