Staff Reports
ALBUQUERQUE — In a July 21 press release, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions announced it has been awarded more than $900,000 in federal funding to expand apprenticeship programs and strengthen employer partnerships, connecting more New Mexicans with paid training in the high-demand industries of construction, healthcare, information technology, and cybersecurity.
Since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took office, New Mexico has added more than 35 Registered Apprenticeship Programs and nearly doubled the number of active apprentices from about 1,400 in 2018 to nearly 2,700 in 2026. Apprentices who successfully complete a Registered Apprenticeship Program earn a national recognized completion certificate
“Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to address workforce needs while creating life-changing career opportunities for New Mexicans,” NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair said. “This investment allows us to continue strengthening partnerships with employers, expand training in industries facing workforce shortages, and equip more New Mexicans with the skills needed to succeed in well-paying careers.”
The funding will allow NMDWS to:
- Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in high-demand industries.
- Develop new apprenticeship opportunities with employers and industry partners.
- Strengthen pre-apprenticeship pathways that prepare participants for apprenticeship programs.
- Increase outreach to veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, rural communities, and other underserved populations.
- Provide support services that help apprentices complete their trainings and successfully enter the workforce.
Apprenticeship programs combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, enabling participants to earn a wage while developing nationally recognized skills and credentials. Employers benefit by cultivating a highly skilled workforce, while apprentices gain the experience and training needed for long-term career success.
This grant, known as SAEF4, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, builds upon previous federal investments that have expanded apprenticeship throughout New Mexico. Earlier federal grants, authorized through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula program, helped establish new pre-apprenticeship programs in clean energy, broadband, construction, and infrastructure through the Building, Energizing, and Connecting through Apprenticeships initiative.
Pre-apprenticeships are shorter work-based learning programs that also combine on-the-job learning with related instruction to provide young people with career exploration and some experience in an occupation, often as a precursor to an apprenticeship program.
Federal funding has also enabled support services for apprentices, including books, tools, and equipment that reduce financial barriers and help participants complete their training.
In addition to federal investments, Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature established the Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund, a $40 million investment to provide sustained support for apprenticeship expansion statewide. Together, these state and federal investments are strengthening New Mexico’s talent pipeline and ensuring employers have access to the skilled workers needed to support the state’s growing economy.
For more information about apprenticeship programs in New Mexico, visit https://www.dws.nm.gov/apprenticeship.
