Wednesday, April 29, 2026 — Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced that the Trump administration is significantly expanding its national apprenticeship program as a central strategy to address labor shortages and build a skilled workforce.
Sonderling described registered apprenticeships as “the fastest way to get skilled Americans in the workforce,” emphasizing they are debt-free for participants while allowing employers to design curricula tailored to industry needs rather than academic institutions that lack practical job experience.
The administration has already launched 390,000 new registered apprenticeships and established 3,300 additional training programs since the start of this administration. The average wage for these apprentices stands at $86,000.
Sonderling linked the program to President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, noting that the return of manufacturing and investment to the United States has created heightened demand for skilled labor across sectors including construction, technology, and finance. “The president has delivered in bringing investment into the U.S., bringing factories back to the U.S., and that’s going to create more jobs,” he said.
The Labor Department reported nearly 3,000 events nationwide during National Apprenticeship Week aimed at connecting workers with training opportunities and employers. The administration aims to achieve one million new registered apprenticeships within its first 100 days in office.
