Governor Healey Proclaims November 20th as Women in Apprenticeship Day

Governor Healey Proclaims November 20th as Women in Apprenticeship Day  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today proclaimed November 20, 2025, Massachusetts Women in Apprenticeship Day, celebrating the vital contributions of women in the workforce and recognizing the importance of creating pathways for their success. The proclamation was presented at the 10th Annual Massachusetts Girls in Trades Western Conference & Career Fair, which connects girls enrolled in career and technical education programs with tradeswomen, union apprenticeship programs, and industry leaders to learn more about mentorship and career opportunities.  

“Registered apprenticeship is critical for our workers and our workforce development efforts, and we are committed to expanding access to these vital programs for girls and women throughout the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to support organizations like Massachusetts Girls in Trades as they help grow our economy and build the workforce of the future.”  

“The registered apprenticeship model provides a proven pathway to good careers and ensures everyone has a fair shot at success,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By empowering more women and people of color to pursue careers in construction and the building trades, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive workforce in Massachusetts.” 

“Registered Apprenticeship is a gateway for workers across the state to find a career in some of our high-demand industries, gaining on-the-job training and experience while earning good wages,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration appreciates the partnership with MA Girls in Trade and many other union leaders as we promote Registered Apprenticeship to unlock life-changing careers especially for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups in the trades.” 

Governor Healey has prioritized supporting union labor and women in trades. She signed Executive Orders to increase the participation of women in construction and to promote the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) by state agencies for large public works projects. She has also expanded career pathways for young people across the state – including increasing the number of Early College and Innovation Career Pathways programs in schools. Last week, she attended the Annual Massachusetts Girls in Trades Eastern Conference & Career Fair in Boston. 

“We have over 40 registered construction apprenticeship programs across the state, where apprentices earn while they learn the most cutting-edge techniques and how to do them in the safest way possible,” Chrissy Lynch, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “We prepare apprentices not just for jobs, but for middle-class careers, and we are so proud of the growing number of women in these registered apprenticeships. Governor Healey knows that union training programs and registered apprenticeship are the best available, and that they improve standards for entire industries. We are proud to partner with the Healey Administration to ensure more women have access to registered apprenticeships, and to ensure project labor agreements will put them to work." 

Massachusetts is recognized in scaling apprenticeship as an innovative workforce strategy in expansion industries, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration has prioritized registered apprenticeship to address the state’s ongoing need for skilled labor and to build a robust talent pipeline for future workforce needs. As a result of the administration’s efforts, since January 2023, the Division of Apprentice Standards has: 

• Leveraged state and federal funds to award more than $12 million in apprenticeship grants 

• Registered over 10,000 apprentices 

• Registered 1,957 new apprentices in expanded industries 

• Registered 274 new apprenticeship programs 

• Expanded registered apprenticeship tax credit (RATC) to industries like clean energy and approved $480,000 in registered apprenticeship tax credits to employers who hired 100 apprentices, more than double the number in previous years  

• Reestablished the Apprenticeship Council.