Marlin, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited the Schuylkill Technology Center (STC) to highlight the $3.5 million investment in L&I’s Schools-to-Work Program as part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 state budget. Through this investment, the Shapiro Administration is empowering more employers, schools, and community organizations to create, launch, and maintain clear pathways to registered pre-apprenticeships that ultimately set younger Pennsylvanians up for future success in the workforce.
“Investing in the Schools-to-Work Program means investing directly in Pennsylvania’s future. We chose to celebrate this latest budget investment at Schuylkill Technology Center because its electrical pre-apprenticeship is exactly what Schools-to-Work is all about: strong local partnerships, hands-on training, and real pathways to family-sustaining careers,” said Secretary Walker. “What STC has built with IBEW Local 743, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and the Life-Long Learning Center is a model for how communities can work together to open doors for young people. The Shapiro Administration is proud to support programs like this that connect students with opportunities and strengthen our workforce for years to come.”
The Schuylkill Technology Center is home to Schuylkill County’s first ever, officially registered pre-apprenticeship program. Started in 2024 thanks to Schools-to-Work grant funding, the electrical pre-apprenticeship program has grown from six participants in its first year, to 19 in 2025. The growing program is bringing new opportunities to young adults in the rural Appalachian county. That’s in line with Governor Shapiro’s mission to empower and equip all young Pennsylvanians with the tools and training they need to chart their own course, regardless of their zip code.
Strengthening Pennsylvania’s workforce through strategic investments and initiatives continues to be a top a priority for Governor Shapiro. The 2025-26 budget delivers $183 million in funding for career and technical education and apprenticeships — a more than 50 percent increase compared to when the Governor first took office.
Additional workforce development investments made in the budget include $12.5 million for apprenticeship training programs and $2.8 million for Industry Partnerships.
Established in 2016, L&I's Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth. The ATO currently supports 846 unduplicated program sponsors, 138 registered pre-apprenticeship programs, and 1,417 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth, with 15,965 registered apprentices currently active.
Since Governor Shapiro took office, the ATO has supported the creation of 194 new registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and enrolled more than 17,100 new apprentices.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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