$86 Million in Federal Grants to Boost Workforce Training in High-Risk Industries
The Labor Department is funding skills programs in shipbuilding, manufacturing, construction, and other critical sectors to strengthen workforce readiness and improve safety outcomes nationwide.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Oct 01, 2025
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $86 million in workforce training grants to 14 states to help strengthen domestic industries and prepare workers for high-demand, high-risk jobs in fields such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, construction, and emerging technologies.
The grants, administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, will reimburse employers for providing skills training to newly hired and incumbent workers. A significant share of the funding — more than $20 million — will support revitalizing the domestic shipbuilding industry, including training in welding, marine electrical work, and other specialized trades that require rigorous safety protocols.
“These investments will help prepare American workers for the good-paying jobs being created in critical sectors while ensuring they receive the training needed to work safely and productively,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
The grants align with national goals to expand workforce capacity in advanced manufacturing, AI-enabled technologies, aerospace, defense, energy, and other strategic industries. Many of these sectors involve elevated occupational safety risks, making structured, hands-on training a crucial component for protecting workers as operations scale up.
Among the largest recipients are:
- Connecticut Department of Labor – $8 million for manufacturing, construction, logistics, health care, IT, and shipbuilding
- Maine Department of Labor – $8 million for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and shipbuilding
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – $8 million for shipbuilding
- Idaho Department of Labor – $8 million for manufacturing, mineral production, and nuclear energy
Other states receiving funding include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The department said the program aims to accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and close skills gaps in critical industries — goals that are expected to boost both economic competitiveness and workplace safety outcomes nationwide.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.