Labor Dept. Opens Applications for $6,000-Per-Apprentice Payments
The DOL's Pay-for-Performance program offers up to $6,000 per apprentice across shipbuilding, semiconductors, IT, and other high-demand sectors.
The U.S. Department of Labor has opened applications for direct incentive payments of up to $6,000 per apprentice through its Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, targeting high-growth industries including shipbuilding, semiconductors, information technology, and nuclear energy infrastructure. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funds are exhausted, the department said.
The announcement follows President Trump's declaration in Daytona Beach, Florida, of a $40 million investment led by the Florida Department of Commerce to expand Registered Apprenticeships in shipbuilding and the defense industrial base. That initiative alone is projected to produce nearly 10,000 new apprentices over four years. Combined with earlier commitments, the department has now invested nearly $200 million in pay-for-performance incentive funds.
Read more H&P Leads Virginia Data Center Education Initiative Through 2026 →
Four distinct funds are now active. The Arkansas Department of Commerce administers a $35.8 million pool for advanced manufacturing, offering up to $3,500 per new apprentice. Clark University's trustees oversee a $27 million information technology fund, paying a one-time $6,000 for each apprentice who remains employed at least 90 days. Florida Commerce administers the $40 million shipbuilding and defense fund, with baseline payments of $2,000 and up to $6,000 for sponsors meeting strategic priorities. Jobs for the Future Inc. runs a separate $40 million fund covering super intelligence, semiconductor fabrication, and nuclear energy.
Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, speaking during a Florida visit alongside Rep. Brian Mast and state officials, framed the program as the fastest path to connecting skilled workers with in-demand jobs. The administration has described Registered Apprenticeship expansion as a central workforce strategy, with the incentive payments designed to lower barriers to employer participation and support long-term hiring and retention.
Continue reading at DOL News Releases and Briefs.
