The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a national contracting opportunity designed to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence skills into Registered Apprenticeship programs, marking a major step forward in preparing the American workforce for the jobs of the future.
Through this initiative, the department’s Employment and Training Administration seeks to expand AI-related training, modernize apprenticeship programs, and strengthen the nation’s talent pipeline across emerging and critical industries. The department aims to ensure workers across all sectors gain the AI literacy and technical skills needed to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy.
“AI is transforming every industry, and our workforce systems must evolve just as quickly,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “This initiative will help ensure American workers are not merely participants in the AI economy but leading it.”
The initiative focuses on three key national priorities:
- Embedding AI training, tools, and curricula into existing apprenticeship programs.
- Including AI in roles that directly build, manage, or apply AI technologies.
- Strengthening workforce pipelines in areas like data centers, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing.
These efforts align with broader federal priorities, including executive actions to expand Registered Apprenticeships and strengthen workforce readiness in critical sectors, and the department’s AI Literacy Framework and the recently announced Make America AI-Ready initiative.
“Registered Apprenticeships remain one of the nation’s most effective workforce development models, offering earn-while-you-learn opportunities that connect workers directly to good-paying jobs,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “With millions of new jobs projected in emerging sectors over the next decade, this initiative positions apprenticeships as a central strategy for meeting workforce demand.”
The selected contractor will serve as a national intermediary, working with employers, industry associations, and workforce partners to:
- Develop AI-related curricula, training modules, and apprenticeship standards.
- Support employers in adopting and expanding apprenticeship programs.
- Provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise across industries.
- Convene national stakeholders to align workforce development strategies.
- Promote innovation and accelerate adoption of AI-enabled training models.
The initiative will drive the creation of new apprenticeship pathways in high-demand AI roles, while integrating AI competencies into traditional trades and infrastructure occupations. By combining proven apprenticeship models with cutting-edge AI skills, the department aims to expand access to economic opportunities, while helping employers build the skilled workforce they need to grow.
The department intends to award a single contract with a one-year base period and four option years, reflecting a long-term commitment to advancing AI workforce development nationwide.
Eligible organizations, particularly those with expertise in AI, workforce development, and industry partnerships, are encouraged to review the full solicitation on sam.gov under Notice ID: 1605C2-26-R-00003, or “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Skills in Registered Apprenticeships,” and submit proposals.