Oregon to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Pathways in Healthcare, Information Technology, and Manufacturing
Salem, OR | The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is pleased to announce that Oregon will invest approximately $1.7 million in federal funding to expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) aimed at strengthening the state’s apprenticeship system and addressing urgent workforce shortages in healthcare, and emerging needs in information technology (IT) and manufacturing. This initiative addresses critical workforce shortages, especially in rural and frontier communities, by increasing access to paid, high-quality training pathways.
"These innovative apprenticeships will provide new career pathways for in-demand skills,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “By strengthening Oregon's workforce in these critical fields, we are investing in the success of Oregonians and building a more competitive and resilient economy."
Julia Pontoni, chief of strategy for the HECC, says, “This affirms Oregon’s commitment to strengthening critical workforce pathways and expanding access to high-quality training opportunities. We are excited to work with our partners to support established registered apprenticeship pathways and new pilots to grow a skilled workforce and increase access to family-wage careers.”
“Oregon’s workforce needs are evolving, and registered apprenticeship is one of the most effective tools we have to ensure Oregon workers and employers are prepared for opportunities in healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing,” said Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Commissioner Christina Stephenson. “This investment helps us expand into careers where demand is high and uphold our responsibility to ensure Oregonians have equitable access to strong, future‑focused career pathways.”
To accelerate solutions, Oregon will use the grant funds awarded by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula 4 (SAEF4) to address workforce shortages in healthcare, and emerging needs in IT and manufacturing. The funds will support healthcare apprentices in high-demand occupations. The planned investment is expected to support new apprentices in high-demand roles such as medical assistants, behavioral health support, paramedics, dental assistants, and surgical technologists. Funding will prioritize education, clinical supervision, wraparound services such as transportation and childcare, mentor development, and employer onboarding, particularly for rural providers and community-based organizations.
In addition to healthcare expansion, Oregon will invest these grant funds to pilot registered apprenticeship models in information technology and manufacturing. These pilots will help build future training pathways in sectors where registered apprenticeship opportunities are currently limited. Participating partner organizations will conduct labor market analyses, engage employers, assess training capacity, develop prototype standards, and prepare recommendations that shape statewide registered apprenticeship program development. Grants may support numerous IT and manufacturing areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, and industrial machinery.
Healthcare and social assistance is a large and steadily growing sector of Oregon’s economy according to Oregon Employment Department projections. Persistent shortages, particularly in rural and frontier communities, continue to impact access to healthcare including behavioral healthcare. HECC’s SAEF4 grant directly responds to Oregon’s 2026 Talent Assessment, which recommends expanded work-based learning and employer-led training—among other strategies—to meet the state's talent needs, and identifies 15 in-demand sectors in Oregon, including healthcare, high tech/software/IT, and advanced manufacturing. It also responds to the Oregon Behavioral Health Talent Assessment.
Approximately $491,000 in grant funds will be sub-awarded through a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) that will be available to healthcare employers and providers, as well as industry and training partners in IT and manufacturing. In addition, the federal grant provides approximately $1.2 million to bolster funding for the state apprenticeship system through BOLI and HECC to accelerate program approvals, streamline processes, strengthen sponsor readiness, and increase transparency. A statewide behavioral health resource hub will be developed to help Oregonians understand behavioral health career pathways, including apprenticeship opportunities.
“BOLI’s Apprenticeship and Training Division employees are excited to support this collaborative effort with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission,” said Jody Robbins, director of the Bureau of Labor and Industries Apprenticeship and Training Division. “The SAEF4 award strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality technical assistance, improve data and compliance systems, and work closely with industry partners to expand equitable apprenticeship opportunities across industries in Oregon. We are committed to ensuring these investments translate into stronger programs, clearer standards, and meaningful pathways for more Oregon workers.”
The SAEF4 grant builds on previous state efforts, including a previous federal grant to Oregon, to advance Registered Apprenticeship growth in key sectors and support coordinated, statewide efforts to meet pressing labor market needs.
|
