Pa. launches $250K welding program for high schoolers
Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry announced Tuesday the launch of a new welding pre-apprenticeship program at Pittsburgh’s Industrial Arts Workshop, backed by a $250,000 state investment.
The program will train at least 15 high school students each year for careers in skilled trades, with Iron Workers Local 3 and U.S. Steel serving as sponsors. Through the department’s Schools-to-Work initiative, students will earn industry-recognized welding certifications while receiving career counseling and exposure to various employment opportunities.
Secretary Nancy A. Walker attended the launch, where she met with the first group of students beginning their training.
“Seeing these students take their first steps toward careers in the skilled trades is a powerful reminder of why investments in workforce development matter,” Walker said, adding that the administration’s commitment to expanding these opportunities provides young Pennsylvanians with the tools and training needed to build rewarding careers.
Participants will have access to supportive services for up to one year after completing the program.
Maura Bainbridge, assistant director of the Industrial Arts Workshop, said the pre-apprenticeship designation and sponsor support validate students’ efforts.
“Every day at IAW we see the hard work that young people are putting into developing themselves, their skills, and their futures,” Bainbridge said.
The welding program is part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s broader workforce development expansion. Since January 2023, the state has increased funding for workforce initiatives by 60%, growing the budget from $118 million to $188 million.
Since the current administration began, 286 new apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs have been registered statewide, with more than 32,300 new participants enrolled. Nearly 47,000 Pennsylvanians have participated in these programs over the last two years.
The Schools-to-Work program has received more than $15 million in state investment since 2023, with nearly 2,000 students enrolled during that period.
