The U.S. Department of Labor issued a press release and accompanying blog post to announce the launch of the Apprentice Trailblazer Initiative, which is intended to create a national network of apprentices and apprenticeship graduates whose stories may inspire others interested in becoming apprentices.

Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) announced the relaunch of the Bipartisan Building Trades Caucus, which brings members of Congress together to discuss the issues that impact the construction industry.

The Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2023-18 to establish the Inflation Reduction Act program to allocate $10 billion of section 48C (Qualifying Advanced Energy Product Credit) credits for qualified investments in eligible qualifying advanced energy projects (the section 48C(e) program).

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced a $20 million cooperative agreement between the Department of Labor and the nonprofit organization TradesFutures to advance equitable opportunities in construction through DOL’s “Scaling Apprenticeship Readiness Across the Building Trades” initiative.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration announced a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship on Jan. 12, 2023, focused on youth apprenticeship and finalizing the priorities for the upcoming year. Specific agenda items include remarks from ETA leadership and other apprenticeship stakeholders, a youth apprenticeship panel, insights regarding youth apprenticeship site visits, subcommittee reports regarding the “Strategic Framework” and “Year Two Focus,” and public comments.

The Department of Labor published a final rule on Sept. 26 to rescind Trump-era Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs that marks the end of a four-year fight by SWACCA’s public policy team in Washington, D.C. This final rule will be effective on Nov. 25.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $50 million in Apprenticeship Building America grant funding for registered apprenticeship hubs. Registered apprenticeship hubs help employers design, develop and deliver programs and support the establishment, scaling and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in new and fast-growing industries and occupations.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $3.4 million in funding to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs.

Construction employment grew in 249 out of 358 metro areas between May 2018 and May 2019, declined in 57 and was unchanged in 52, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

A proposed new U.S. Dept. of Labor regulation that would reshape apprenticeship programs across a wide range of industries has drawn sharply divided reactions from construction industry groups, with unions praising the plan, a major contractor group strongly criticizing it, and other contractor associations with relationships with unions also welcoming the proposed rule.