Month-long Celebration of Apprenticeships Underway Across NJ

On Apr 1, 2026

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) is leading a month-long celebration across the Garden State to showcase the importance of apprenticeships.

The State of New Jersey observes Apprenticeship Month during the entire month of April, aligning with National Apprenticeship Week recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor from April 26 through May 2. Statewide events are planned by employers, organizations and educational institutions including Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, New Jersey Health Care Employers District 1199J, the Essex County Schools of Technology, and many more.

“The apprenticeship model has a proven history of connecting workers to meaningful careers, and we are leveraging this to open doors in emerging industries across New Jersey,” said Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “By adapting this time-tested approach to meet workforce demands, we are ensuring that the apprenticeship model continues to serve as a bridge between learning and earning for generations of workers to come.”

Since establishing the NJDOL Office of Apprenticeship in 2018, New Jersey has invested approximately $115 million in grant funding to develop apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeship and work-based programs, resulting in:

• 1,000+ new Registered Apprenticeship programs (170% increase);
• 27,693 newly onboarded apprentices; and
• 10,811 currently active apprentices across 1,639 programs.

Among its many active grantees, NJDOL has most recently awarded eight grants within the manufacturing sector totaling $2,325,300 and 34 grants within the healthcare sector totaling $15,939,027.

The Office of Apprenticeship also provides funding to assist employers in developing apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities through the following grant programs:

• Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) creates apprenticeship opportunities in high-growth industries;
• Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) prepares participants for apprenticeships, post-secondary training programs, or the workforce while removing economic barriers through stipends for supportive services like childcare and transportation; and,
• Youth Transitions To Work (YTTW) connects high school students and out-of-school youth (ages 16-24) to high-skill, high-wage apprenticeships and careers by linking schools with apprenticeship programs.

In addition to grant funding, the Office of Apprenticeship has also provided financial backing to grow innovative programs through several Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). Examples include:

• The College Credit for Apprenticeship Initiative in partnership with Thomas Edison University: Through an MOU signed in 2025,  NJDOL provides $5 million to develop college-credit pathways for registered apprenticeship programs over the course of three years to integrate workforce training with academic credentials like an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
• A Teacher Apprenticeship program in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Education: This program was unveiled on Apprenticeship Day 2025, with NJDOL funding an $800,000 grant to establish new USDOL-approved registered teacher apprenticeship programs while offsetting associated costs. Ramapo College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick were each awarded $400,000. Currently, Ramapo College has 30 USDOL-registered apprentices in the K-12 Teacher occupation program and Rutgers University has a total of 35 USDOL-registered apprentices.

“By partnering with the New Jersey and Federal Departments of Labor through this landmark grant, Ramapo College is turning the ‘earn-and-learn’ dream into a reality for the dedicated paraprofessionals who are already the heart of our classrooms,” said Dr. Adam Fried, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Teacher Education at Ramapo College. “As the state’s first registered teacher apprenticeship provider, we aren’t just filling vacancies, we are empowering our own local talent to nearly double their earning potential while pursuing their passion for teaching. This investment allows us to strengthen the educator pipeline with experienced professionals who deeply know their communities, ensuring that every student in New Jersey is met by a highly trained, certified teacher who is ready to inspire the next generation.”

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