Labor Department Launches Apprenticeship Initiative for Advanced Manufacturing Jobs
The new federal program aims to expand registered apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing, strengthening workforce training and supporting safer performance in safety-sensitive roles.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Dec 24, 2025
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new federal initiative aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing, a move officials say will help strengthen workforce training and support safer job performance in high-risk industries.
The program, launched through the department’s Employment and Training Administration, is designed to encourage employers to develop and grow apprenticeship pathways that prepare workers for skilled manufacturing roles. These positions often involve complex machinery, hazardous materials, and safety-sensitive tasks where proper training is critical to preventing injuries and illnesses.
Labor officials said the initiative will focus on increasing access to structured, competency-based training that combines paid on-the-job learning with classroom instruction. Apprenticeship programs typically include safety fundamentals, hazard recognition, and regulatory awareness as core components of worker preparation.
From an occupational health and safety perspective, expanded apprenticeship opportunities can help reduce workplace incidents by ensuring employees receive consistent, standardized training before performing high-risk work. Manufacturing remains one of the nation’s more hazardous sectors, and safety advocates have long pointed to training gaps as a contributing factor to injuries and near misses.
The Labor Department said the effort also aims to strengthen the talent pipeline for manufacturers while supporting safer, more resilient workplaces. Employers participating in the program will be encouraged to align training with industry standards and evolving workplace safety requirements.
Officials described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to invest in workforce development while reinforcing protections for workers entering demanding industrial environments.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.