The US government is moving to retool workforce training for the next phase of the economy, tying apprenticeships, AI literacy and hands-on job preparation into a single national push.
The U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of $98 million in funding to expand pre-apprenticeship programs for young people through its YouthBuild initiative, targeting industries facing persistent labor shortages and technological change.
The funding will support education, occupational skills training and employment services for young people aged 16 to 24, particularly in communities where labor force participation remains low. Priority sectors include construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology and healthcare.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says the program is designed to create direct pathways from training into skilled work.
“By investing $98 million through our YouthBuild Program, the Labor Department is opening up pathways to success for young Americans by providing them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in construction and emerging fields.”
She adds that the effort is aligned with broader workforce goals under the current administration.
“The Trump Administration remains committed to building a skilled workforce that will drive our economy into the future.”
The grants are funded through the department’s YouthBuild Program and administered by the Employment and Training Administration under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The department expects to award roughly 57 individual grants ranging from $1 million to $2 million each.
For the first time, the Department of Labor has set a target for how many YouthBuild participants must enter a Registered Apprenticeship within one year of completing the program. The requirement is intended to ensure that pre-apprenticeship programs are tied to real employers and established apprenticeship sponsors, rather than serving as stand-alone training tracks.
The initiative also places a new emphasis on artificial intelligence education. Grant applicants are required to incorporate AI literacy into the academic portion of the program and are encouraged to embed AI concepts into occupational skills training as well.
According to the department, the funding aligns with the Trump administration’s America’s Talent Strategy and its stated goal of reaching and surpassing one million apprenticeships nationwide, positioning YouthBuild as a bridge between education, emerging technology and long-term employment.
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