New Jersey's S 2195 provides tax credits to businesses that hire apprentices in U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-registered programs. Businesses can claim a $1,000 base credit per apprentice per tax period, with an additional $2,000 for veterans, displaced workers, those from underrepresented groups, or individuals previously incarcerated. To qualify, apprentices must be employed for at least seven months during the tax period, and credits cannot exceed four tax periods per apprentice. The bill prohibits using these credits to displace existing workers or undermine collective bargaining agreements.
This bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey manufacturers hiring apprentices in machine and metal trades. Employers can claim a credit equal to 50% of qualifying apprentices' wages, up to $7,500 per apprentice per year, for structured training programs. To qualify, apprentices must work at least 1,500 hours annually in roles like machinists or toolmakers, with defined training, wage progression, and completion leading to skilled worker status. The credit applies to both corporate business tax and individual income tax starting January 1, 2016, and is nonrefundable.
This bill establishes public-private partnerships to create AI job training programs in New Jersey. It directly affects displaced workers (those losing jobs due to AI) and current workers seeking AI-related skills, aiming to strengthen the state's workforce competitiveness. Key mechanisms include allowing private companies to manage training programs full-time (handling finances and operations) while exempting them from standard procurement rules and prevailing wage requirements. The Department of Labor will review proposals and require an annual progress report from an advisory council, with training deliverable remotely or in-person.
This bill (S 1693) dedicates specific funding from New Jersey's existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund to promote apprenticeships. It allocates 5% of annual revenues to One Stop Career Centers for statewide apprenticeship promotion and 0.5% to the Apprenticeship Start-Up Grant Program. These funds support accredited apprenticeship programs (approved by the U.S. Department of Labor) and help workers - especially displaced or disadvantaged individuals - gain industry-valued credentials through training. The bill directly affects apprenticeship programs, career centers, and workers seeking job training opportunities.
This bill establishes a new Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor to create training opportunities in AI technology, data analytics, and automation. It also creates a tax credit for employers hiring qualified AI apprentices, allowing them to claim up to $5,000 per apprentice (half of wages paid, capped at $5,000) for taxable years beginning in 2026. To qualify, employers must hire unskilled or semi-skilled apprentices for at least 20 weeks in a program meeting state and federal standards, covering roles like generative AI development. The program will partner with AI companies and educational institutions to design training pathways. The tax credit applies to both corporate business tax and gross income tax.
This bill establishes a 5-year Nuclear Energy Apprenticeship Pilot Program under New Jersey's Department of Labor, appropriating $1 million to fund accredited apprenticeship programs in nuclear energy sectors. It provides grants to eligible organizations (like businesses, schools, or nonprofits) that partner with industry to train workers in nuclear infrastructure, utilities, and radioactive waste handling, with priority for programs serving underserved communities. Grantees must demonstrate industry partnerships, financial contributions, and outreach plans, and must report annually on participant enrollment, completion, and job placement. The program requires the Department to evaluate outcomes yearly and recommend renewal or expansion based on workforce gap data.
S 1151 establishes the "Careers without College Program" within New Jersey's Department of Labor to connect eligible individuals (those qualifying for the Community College Opportunity Grant Program) with job and training opportunities in fields that don't require a college degree. The program creates a public webpage with career information, job postings, and scam warnings, partners with trade schools and unions, and promotes non-college career paths to high schools. It also creates a 10-member "Careers without College Advisory Commission" to advise on advancing specific industries like trades, cosmetology, construction, and healthcare support roles. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee after its January 2026 introduction.
This bill establishes a Statewide Skills Academy Network to connect county colleges, vocational schools, and union training programs across New Jersey. It appropriates $1 million to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to support the network’s work in improving collaboration, identifying workforce training gaps, and developing accessible short-term programs in high-demand fields. The network will focus on sharing best practices, expanding geographic access to training, and creating an integrated credentialing system to help workers gain job-ready skills. Regional skills academies selected through a competitive process will use grant funds to develop training sites offering evening and weekend classes. The bill directly affects educational institutions, workforce training providers, and workers seeking credentials in growing industries.
New Jersey's S 1831 establishes a statewide youth apprenticeship program for students aged 16-21, directly affecting high school students (particularly 11th and 12th graders), employers, and low-income apprentices. The bill creates career-connected high school pathways, combines paid on-the-job training with community college dual enrollment, and prioritizes high-demand sectors like healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and green jobs. It appropriates $25 million annually starting in FY2026 to fund the program, including tax credits of up to $5,000 per apprentice for employers who pay at least 60% of journeyperson wages and meet diversity and reporting requirements. The program requires annual reporting on participation demographics, completion rates, and state savings from reduced reliance on student aid, while prohibiting duplication of existing apprenticeship programs.
This bill establishes a state-funded grant program to support new apprenticeships in New Jersey's wind energy and nuclear power industries. It provides grants to eligible organizations (like businesses, schools, or nonprofits) that partner with industry sponsors and meet federal accreditation standards for apprenticeship programs. Applicants must demonstrate workforce needs, recruitment plans, and financial commitments, with grants to be awarded starting in 2025. The program requires annual reporting on enrollment, completion rates, and job placements to evaluate effectiveness, aiming to address skilled labor gaps in these clean energy sectors.
