U.S. Labor Department awards nearly $162 million for apprenticeships in AI-linked sectors
Five cooperative agreements will support Registered Apprenticeship growth across AI infrastructure, semiconductors, nuclear energy, IT, telecoms, shipbuilding and automotive technician roles.
A technician trains an apprentice in a data center environment, reflecting the focus on workforce development and Registered Apprenticeships in technology-linked sectors.
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded nearly $162 million through five cooperative agreements to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in sectors tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, nuclear energy, information technology, telecommunications, shipbuilding, defense manufacturing and automotive services.
The awards were announced on July 7, 2026, through the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program. The model links federal funding to verified apprentice retention and progression milestones, with incentive payments made to Registered Apprenticeship sponsors as apprentices move through programs.
Keith Sonderling, U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor, said in a LinkedIn post that the awards support occupations “critical for the administration’s reindustrialization agenda.”
The five recipients are FloridaCommerce, Jobs for the Future, the Wireless Infrastructure Association, Clark University and the ASE Education Foundation. The Department of Labor said the program will support national efforts to train thousands of Americans for skilled roles in shipbuilding, the defense industrial base and emerging technology sectors.
The awards are linked to the Trump administration’s America’s Talent Strategy and its goal of reaching and surpassing one million new active apprentices nationwide.
Funding tied to verified apprenticeship milestones
The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program is designed to scale Registered Apprenticeship through payments based on measurable outcomes rather than upfront activity alone.
The Department of Labor describes Registered Apprenticeship as an “earn while you learn” model that leads to increased pay, a postsecondary credential and occupational skills.
Under the incentive model, sponsors receive payments as apprentices reach verified retention and progression milestones. The Department of Labor says this structure is intended to connect federal funding to outcomes in industries linked to U.S. economic competitiveness.
The awards also advance federal work connected to presidential executive orders including Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance and Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base.
Five organizations receive awards
FloridaCommerce has been awarded $40 million to support a nationwide incentive program through a consortium led by the State Workforce Board and CareerSource Florida. The funding will focus on the defense industrial base, shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing sectors.
Jobs for the Future, also awarded $40 million, will support Registered Apprenticeship growth in roles connected to the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence, semiconductor and nuclear energy industries. JFF works across U.S. education and workforce systems, including career pathways and quality jobs.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association has received $29.9 million to expand Registered Apprenticeships in telecommunications. The association will use its national sponsor network and existing presence across all 50 states and two territories.
Clark University has been awarded $27 million to create a national Pay-for-Performance initiative focused on expanding high-quality Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in information technology.
The ASE Education Foundation has received $25 million to build sponsor capacity for automotive and truck service technician apprenticeships, including per-technician incentive funding.
The Department of Labor has positioned the grants as part of a national apprenticeship expansion effort across industrial and emerging technology sectors. The five cooperative agreements are now in place, with grantees expected to run incentive models tied to apprentice retention and progression.
