Construct PA workforce development initiative provides quick onramp to growing industry for young adults looking for new career opportunities.
Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal looks to build upon three years of historic progress with continued investments in workforce development, creating more pathways to opportunity and good-paying jobs for all Pennsylvanians.
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Labor & Industry (L&I) celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort of young Pennsylvanians from the Shapiro Administration’s Construct PA workforce development initiative.
Construct PA was developed following Governor Josh Shapiro’s July 2023 executive order that created the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program (CWTP), a first-in-the-nation job training program that provides workforce development grants to ensure companies, contractors, unions, and others who are working to build Pennsylvania’s infrastructure have the skilled workforce they need. The initiative provides pathways for young Pennsylvanians who were previously involved in the justice system with opportunities to secure successful careers in the Commonwealth’s construction industry.
“The Shapiro Administration knows that infrastructure is critical to supporting Pennsylvanians and our economy, and maintaining and growing the industry’s workforce is crucial,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “The department is proud to support these graduates in building their careers while we also expand the infrastructure workforce.”
Through the expedited program, individuals received four weeks of training including:
- PennDOT Transportation Construction Inspector certification.
- In-the-field experience with earthwork equipment and concrete testing, resulting in specialized certifications.
- Additional certifications in worksite safety, safe driving, and flagging.
- Construction math used by builders and contractors, construction plans reading, and professionalism and employment skills.
Following graduation, participants are connected with potential employers looking to grow their teams. While the first cohort trained in Harrisburg, Construct PA will expand to additional communities across the Commonwealth this year. Eligible participants include individuals 18 to 24 years old who have had contact with the justice system, have a GED or high school diploma, and have a valid driver’s license.
The program is one of the many ways the Shapiro Administration is investing in Pennsylvania workers, addressing workforce shortages across industries with real solutions, and empowering Pennsylvanians to chart their own course and access the training they need to succeed.
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the opportunity to build a career and a future they’re proud of. Construct PA creates a clear pathway for young adults who are ready to move forward, by providing industry-recognized credentials, hands-on experience, and direct connections to employers who are hiring,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “These graduates show that when we invest in people and remove barriers to opportunity, we don’t just strengthen our workforce – we strengthen families, communities, and Pennsylvania’s future.”
Since Governor Josh Shapiro took office, the Commonwealth has increased funding for vo-tech, career and technical education (CTE), and apprenticeship programs by nearly 50 percent – from $118 million to $183 million. His 2026-27 budget proposal looks to build upon these crucial workforce investments, with a dedicated $12.5 million for worker training through WEDnetPA, $6.3 million for Industry Partnerships to align training with high-growth sectors like health care, IT, agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing, $7 million for the Schools-to-Work program, which strengthens the bridge between education and employment, and increases funding for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) by $1 million to help more Pennsylvanians with disabilities find and keep work.
CWTP was created to expand opportunities for hands-on job training to support Pennsylvania’s workforce for critical infrastructure projects throughout the Commonwealth and is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) or the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The initiative also ensures that participating Pennsylvanians have the tools they need to succeed by offering supportive services to assist with childcare costs, transportation and professional development.
Construct PA participants are identified through community partners and receive safety and personal protective equipment needed for the program and to begin their new careers. If interested in participating in the program, please contact Daryl St. Clair, PennDOT Executive Office (dstclair@pa.gov) or Autumn Anderson, Labor & Industry Executive Office (auanderson@pa.gov).
The program is supported by federal highway construction dollars deemed eligible for workforce development initiatives through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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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MEDIA CONTACTS:
DOT: Alexis Campbell, alecampbel@pa.gov or Erin Waters-Trasatt, ewaterstra@pa.gov, or 717-783-8800
Danielle L. Woods, L&I, dlipress@pa.gov
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