Jobs Now Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Labor to conduct a two-year pilot program to award grants to general local governmental units or community-based organizations to retain, employ, or train individuals for positions that provide a public service. At least 50% of grant funds must be used to retain employees who would otherwise be laid off due to budget cuts. Labor must encourage grantees to use grant funds to retain, employ, or train veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals receiving unemployment benefits, or dislocated workers.
The BUILDS Act establishes competitive federal grants to fund industry partnerships in infrastructure sectors like energy (including clean energy), construction, transportation, information technology, and utilities. It directly affects workers in these industries, particularly those facing employment barriers (such as individuals receiving food assistance or unemployment benefits), by requiring partnerships to develop paid on-the-job training programs, align education with industry needs, and provide support services like childcare and mentorship. Key mechanisms include $2.5 million grants for new partnerships (up to $1.5 million for renewals) to cover planning, business engagement, and 12-month support services for participants. The bill mandates partnerships to recruit diverse workers, address employment barriers through labor market analysis, and align training with nationally portable credentials. It authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to implement these workforce development activities.
This bill creates a new tax credit for small businesses to support workforce training. It allows eligible small businesses to claim a credit equal to 50% of qualified wages paid to employees under 21 or enrolled in approved apprenticeships, community college programs, or career training related to the business, plus qualified workmen’s compensation expenses, capped at $10,000 per year. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and is designed to directly benefit small businesses seeking to train young workers through structured educational programs. It does not change existing labor laws but provides a financial incentive to invest in employee development.
HR 7524, the Older Workers’ Bureau Act, establishes a new bureau within the Department of Labor to address workplace challenges for older workers. The bureau will conduct research on issues like age discrimination, wage disparities, retirement readiness, and access to workplace flexibility for workers aged 55 and older, and administer grant programs to combat structural ageism and improve employment opportunities. It requires annual reports on federal programs supporting older workers and prioritizes grants for organizations serving disadvantaged older workers in areas lacking targeted training. The act authorizes $10 million annually for these research and grant activities starting in fiscal year 2028. This directly affects older workers (55+) and organizations providing services to them, focusing on concrete policy research and program coordination.
HR 5806, the Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025, provides federal grants to organizations running pre-apprenticeship programs to offer stipends directly to participants. These stipends cover specific costs like transportation, lost wages from reduced work hours, and industry certification fees, primarily targeting individuals facing employment barriers. The bill requires grantees to track key outcomes - such as program completion rates, job placement in relevant industries, and earnings - within 12 months of program completion. It applies to pre-apprenticeship programs aligned with registered apprenticeships and mandates annual reporting to Congress on program effectiveness. The goal is to reduce financial barriers to entering skilled trades through structured support.
The American Apprenticeship Act (HR 1783) provides federal grants to states to fund pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals for registered apprenticeships in industries with low apprenticeship participation (less than 10% of available roles). States must apply with detailed plans for partnering with employers, aligning with existing workforce laws, and prioritizing underserved groups like minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities. Grants cover tuition, materials, and related instruction costs for these preparatory programs, with federal funding covering 20-50% of costs, and $15 million authorized annually for 2026-2031. The bill directly affects state workforce agencies, community organizations running pre-apprenticeship programs, and workers entering targeted sectors like healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
The Lifelong Learning Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to increase funding for worker training programs. It raises the percentage of funds reserved for incumbent worker training from 20% to 30% and for transitional jobs from 10% to 15%. States must now report on training program outcomes to help adjust performance standards, and local workforce boards may operate as one-stop centers if they meet conflict-of-interest requirements. These changes directly affect state workforce programs, local boards, and workers seeking training or transitional employment.
The Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks Act creates a federal grant program to fund workforce training initiatives targeting workers without bachelor’s degrees, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, rural communities, historically disadvantaged groups, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Eligible organizations - such as non-profits, national training groups, and accredited institutions - would receive competitive grants to develop 12-week career programs that partner with employers in high-demand sectors (like healthcare, IT, and manufacturing), ensuring participants earn recognized credentials while receiving living wages and wraparound supports like stipends and job readiness coaching. Programs must prioritize enrollees reading at a 6th-grade level or below, guarantee at least 50% of participants come from underserved communities, and report annually on outcomes like earnings growth, employment rates, and credential attainment. The initiative allocates $30 million annually (2026-2029) to address labor shortages and support economic mobility through targeted, employer-aligned training.
The Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025 funds business groups and nonprofits (called "industry intermediaries") to create apprenticeship programs for secondary students and disconnected youth (ages 16-25 not in school or work). It prioritizes high-poverty schools, rural communities, and underrepresented groups like women in construction and people with disabilities. Key provisions include using federal funds to cover 50% of apprentice wages, provide wraparound support (childcare, tutoring, transportation), and develop training in high-demand fields like plumbing, healthcare, and technology. The bill directs these intermediaries to partner with schools and employers to build pathways into skilled trades and STEM careers.
This bill makes Executive Order 14278 legally binding by codifying it into law. The order directs federal agencies to develop programs preparing Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs in emerging fields. It directly affects the executive branch, requiring departments to implement these workforce training initiatives as a formal legal obligation. The key provision is converting the existing executive order into a permanent legislative requirement, streamlining the process for workforce development programs.
