Department of Labor investing $71 million in programs for improving job quality

The U.S. Department of Labor is awarding $71 million in grants to organizations in 14 states that will work to improve job quality, expand access to employment in critical sectors and prepare workers for well-paying jobs.

The awards include $38 million through the second round of the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grant program, which will enable 13 public-private partnerships across nine states to prepare workers for jobs in infrastructure, the department says.

The program, which was launched in September 2023 with $94 million in grants to 34 public-private partnerships, trains job seekers in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific and technical services occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors.

The grant projects emphasize the delivery of training and supportive services, particularly to those from rural or historically marginalized, underserved and underrepresented communities, the department says.

Programs through which funding was also awarded include:

$13 million to eight organizations through the Critical Sectors Job Quality Program. The organizations will design and deploy programs in 10 states to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in the care, climate resilience and hospitality industries. Three projects will focus specifically on care occupations, including childcare and direct care workers.

$20 million to six organizations through the Workforce Pathways for Youth Program. Grants will help the organizations partner with state and local organizations. The extracurricular organizations will provide workforce readiness programming to expand job training and workforce pathways for youth, including soft skill development, career exploration, job readiness, work-based learning opportunities and work experiences.

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