HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is pouring millions into hands-on job training as it expands apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing and tracks a labor market that continues to add jobs, even as unemployment edges higher.

On Monday, December 8, the Department of Labor and Industry announced nearly $4.2 million in state funding to launch and expand registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs tied to advanced manufacturing, a sector state officials describe as a backbone of the Commonwealth’s economy. The investment is part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s broader push to strengthen workforce pipelines and connect residents to long-term, family-sustaining careers.

The funding supports 15 organizations across Pennsylvania, with roughly $2.4 million dedicated to starting new training programs and nearly $1.8 million aimed at expanding existing ones. New programs include robotics, welding, industrial maintenance, electrical maintenance, and advanced manufacturing tracks serving urban, suburban, and rural counties from Philadelphia and Allegheny County to Lancaster, Centre, and Central Pennsylvania.

Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker said the state is making strategic investments to ensure workers have access to industry-recognized credentials while employers gain a skilled talent pool capable of meeting modern manufacturing demands.

Among the new initiatives are a robotics technician pre-apprenticeship in Lancaster County, a welding apprenticeship in Philadelphia, and an electrical maintenance technician and robotics apprenticeship serving southwestern Pennsylvania. Expanded programs will reach dozens of counties, including Chester, York, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, and Westmoreland, covering fields such as mechatronics, machining, millwright work, and industrial manufacturing technology.

The advanced manufacturing funding is fully state financed and complements workforce investments in the Governor’s 2025–26 budget, which includes $12.5 million for apprenticeship training, $3.5 million for the Schools-to-Work Program, and $2.8 million for industry partnerships. Overall, the budget delivers $183 million for career and technical education and apprenticeships, more than a 50 percent increase from when Shapiro took office.

State labor officials say the results are already visible. Since the start of the administration, Pennsylvania has launched 125 new registered apprenticeship programs and 69 new registered pre-apprenticeship programs. The Department’s Apprenticeship and Training Office now supports 846 program sponsors, 138 pre-apprenticeship programs, and more than 1,400 occupation-specific apprenticeship programs, with nearly 16,000 apprentices currently active statewide.

The training push comes as Pennsylvania’s labor market shows mixed signals. On Thursday, December 11, the department released preliminary employment data for September, delayed because of the federal government shutdown that began October 1. The state’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1 percent, while total nonfarm employment climbed by 5,800 jobs to a record 6.25 million, marking the 17th consecutive month at a historic high.

Education and health services led monthly job gains, and employment increased in six of 11 major industry sectors. Over the year, Pennsylvania added nearly 100,000 jobs.

Also on Thursday, Walker visited the Schuylkill Technology Center to highlight the state’s Schools-to-Work investment, pointing to the county’s first registered pre-apprenticeship program in electrical trades. Launched in 2024, the program has grown from six participants to 19 in a year, offering a pathway to skilled work in a rural Appalachian county.

State officials say the combination of rising job totals and expanded training reflects a deliberate strategy: invest in people first, then match skills to the evolving needs of Pennsylvania’s economy.

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