Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Significant Progress on State Workforce Agenda

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Significant Progress on State Workforce Agenda

Two-year update shows key investments in apprenticeship, ESOL for Work, and modernization efforts to expand opportunities for workers and connect employers with skilled talent

HOLYOKE — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today highlighted significant progress in advancing the Massachusetts State Workforce Agenda to retain, attract, and develop talent and modernize its workforce system, among other strategies. Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones shared a progress report during a quarterly meeting of the MassHire State Workforce Board today at William J. Dean Technical High School in Holyoke.

“Massachusetts' greatest strength is our people, and we're making sure they have the tools and opportunities to succeed,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Whether it's apprenticeships, free community college, English-language training, skills-based hiring or work supports that help people get and keep a job, we're reducing barriers to opportunity and helping more residents connect to good-paying careers. At the same time, we're helping employers find the skilled talent they need to grow, compete and create jobs here in Massachusetts.”

“Massachusetts is building a workforce system that meets people where they are and helps them on their career journey,” said Lt. Governor Driscoll. “By investing in work supports, transportation, ESOL, apprenticeships and free community college, we are removing barriers and expanding pathways so more residents can participate in our economy.”

Progress across four key pillars demonstrate cross-secretariat collaboration led by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and in partnership with the Workforce Skills Cabinet, state and quasi agencies, employers, labor, education and workforce partners, and community organizations. The pillars include: 1) Attracting and Retaining Talent, 2) Developing Talent, 3) Leading by Example, and 4) Modernizing the Workforce Infrastructure.

“Employers across the Commonwealth need skilled talent to compete and grow, and workers need clear, accessible pathways to opportunity,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. “Through MassHire modernization, skills-based hiring, sector-based training, and stronger partnerships with industry, we are creating a more responsive workforce system that supports both jobseekers and businesses.”

“From apprenticeships and free community college to ESOL for Work and skills-based hiring, these investments are helping people enter, re-enter, and advance in the workforce,” said Undersecretary for Workforce Development Alysia Ordway. “At the same time, they are helping employers find the talent they need to grow.”

Among the accomplishments highlighted today, the Administration pointed to the following progress across the four focus areas:

Focus Area I: Talent Attraction and Retention

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is working to reduce barriers to employment, increase labor market participation, and support employers in attracting and retaining skilled workers.

Strengthening work supports: EOLWD launched the Massachusetts Workforce Skills Fund in September 2024, providing $3,000 to $5,000 stipends for eligible unemployed and underemployed residents enrolled in job training. Between September 2024 and January 2026, the pilot reached 1,403 participants, including 38 percent who identify as non-male and 56 percent who identify as non-white.  

Improving access to caregiving supports: The administration advanced a whole-of-government caregiving strategy through the Interagency Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Education, Economic Development, and Labor and Workforce Development. In addition to pursuing and achieving several recommendations to implement, EOLWD successfully relaunched the Massachusetts Caregivers Coalition to promote best practices for workers and employers for caregivers in the workplace.

Promoting retention and ESOL for Work: Since 2023, the Workforce Training Fund Program has awarded more than $100 million to train 82,786 workers at 3,851 Massachusetts employers. The Administration also secured $10 million to expand ESOL for Work, helping more than 3,000 additional participants access English language and workforce training opportunities.

Focus Area II: Talent Development

The Administration is developing talent by supporting priority populations and aligning training with high-growth industries and employer demand.

Supporting priority populations: Massachusetts is expanding workforce pathways for youth, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, low-income workers, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals. For example, the Youth Employment and Skills (YES) initiative launched to expand youth employment opportunities including employer-sponsored youth summer jobs, youth permitting proposed reforms, and more. Since 2023, the YouthWorks program has supported 19,000 youth in summer and year-round employment.

Advancing high-growth industry strategies: Regional Workforce Skills Teams are working with employers, workforce boards, labor, higher education, and training providers to align career pathways with priority sectors such as health care, human services, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean energy, and technology. For example, since 2023, the Health Care Hubs span nine regions featuring partnerships with training providers and local employers that has led to training for 1,274 unemployed and underemployed jobseekers with 74% placement in employment in the industry upon completion of training. As another example, the Career Technical Initiative has trained over 4,500 jobseekers since 2023 in HVAC, welding, and other technical trades. Historically, CTI program completers have demonstrated job placement rates of up to 85%.

Expanding apprenticeships: Since January 2023, the Division of Apprentice Standards has registered 12,251 apprentices and approved 335 new apprenticeship programs including expansion areas such as health care, education, life sciences, and clean energy. Additionally, the administration has helped employers recoup more than $1.6 million through the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit.

Focus Area III: Leading by Example

Massachusetts is using its role as the state’s largest employer to model workforce practices that expand opportunity and strengthen hiring.

Promoting skills-based hiring: In January 2024, Governor Healey signed an executive order directing state agencies to implement skills-based hiring, helping ensure candidates are evaluated based on skills, knowledge, and ability—not only four-year degree requirements. Following the executive order, the MassSkills Coalition was created to bring together employers across sectors committed to sharing and implementing skills-first practices to assess, hire, train, upskill, and retain talent. In early June, the MassSkills Coalition released its first toolkit, offering employers a guide to implement skills-first hiring strategies to attract and retain talent.

Focus Area IV: Workforce System Infrastructure

Massachusetts is modernizing the MassHire public workforce system to better serve jobseekers, workers, employers, and workforce professionals.

Launching the MassHire Innovation Project: The Administration launched the MassHire Innovation Project to advance technology solutions and system improvements to better connect employers and talent. In 2025, EOLWD engaged nearly 6,000 stakeholders through 125+ research activities, including surveys, direct engagement, and workshops, to inform the future-state roadmap for MassHire career services. 

Statements of Support:

David Shapiro, CEO, YMCA of Greater Boston:

“As one of the first registered apprenticeship programs in early education in Massachusetts, we've seen firsthand the impact this model can have on workers, employers, and families. The Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to expanding apprenticeship beyond the traditional trades has created new pathways into the early education profession, allowing individuals to earn while they learn, gain credentials, and build meaningful careers while helping address a critical workforce need. By investing in early educators, we're investing in the workforce behind the workforce—supporting working families, strengthening communities, and building a stronger economy for Massachusetts.”

Tonja Mettlach, Executive Vice President, Massachusetts Business Roundtable:

“Through the MassSkills Coalition, employers across Massachusetts are learning from one another, sharing best practices, and building awareness around skills-based hiring as a strategy to attract, retain, and develop talent. Together, we're helping build a workforce strategy that expands opportunity, strengthens businesses, and supports Massachusetts' long-term economic competitiveness.”

Bob Rivers, Executive Chair and Chair of the Board of Directors, Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank

“The commitment in ESOL for Work training by the Healey-Driscoll Administration recognizes that language skills are essential to workforce success, economic mobility, and lifelong learning. By investing in workers' ability to fully participate and advance in the workforce, Massachusetts is strengthening businesses, expanding opportunity, and building a more competitive and inclusive economy for all."