Massachusetts: State of the State

ESAC State Report 2025 – Massachusetts

Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards

FY 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)

Location: Boston, MA

Staffing: 22 Full-Time Employees (as of May 2025)

 

• Director
• Deputy Director
• General Counsel
• Administrative Coordinators (2)
• Grants Management Specialists (2)
• Quality Assurance Specialists (5)
• Office Operations (4)
• Apprenticeship Liaisons (6)

Key Initiatives:

• As part of a robust Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week and the 10^th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week, the MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced 3.2 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW). Twenty-nine organizations received awards to train and place 514 apprentices across the state.
• The state’s first Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program aimed to strengthen the educator workforce and pipeline across Massachusetts was launched and announced during National Apprenticeship week at Durfee High School, Fall River, MA.
• At this same celebration, the Healy-Driscoll Administration also announced the first Pre-Apprenticeship Partnership with Durfee High School and the Northern New England Laborers.
• The expansion of occupation eligibility for the 2024 Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit (RATC) of $4,800 per apprentice resulted in an approved $480,000 to 20 employers for 100 apprentices, doubling amounts approved in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
• Massachusetts observed National Apprenticeship Day on April 30, 2025, commemorating 250 years of apprenticeship innovation in the Commonwealth and highlighting its role as a pioneer in apprenticeship programs and RATC expansion to support new industries.
• The Division of Apprentice Standards is adopting a new Salesforce-based platform to manage MA apprenticeship program registrations to be released in Summer 2025.

Statistics FY’24:

• Number of Pre-Apprentices/Apprentices:10,000+
• Number of New Apprentices: 3,944
• Number of Completed Apprentices: 3,954
• Number of Sponsors/Programs: 900
• Number New Sponsors/Programs added in FY’25 to date: 75

State Partnerships:

• Division of Apprentice Standards Staff works closely with all our regulatory, licensing and certifying Boards to establish safe, sound, and well-established apprenticeship programs, as well as numerous industry and sectorial partners across the Commonwealth.

Workforce Partnerships:

• As a result of “Subject Matter Expert” grants issued to MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Development Boards, a strategic plan to continue this work with the Department of Career Services has ensued.

To bring registered apprenticeship to scale by maximizing exposure and outreach to employers across the Commonwealth, DAS created and implemented regularly scheduled MassHire Systemwide training to all MassHire employees “Understanding and Promoting Registered Apprenticeship: The Value Proposition.”

In addition to these online training sessions, DAS presents in-person at careers centers, staff meetings, and workforce board convenings.

Notable Achievements:

• DAS used State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) funding to work with consultants on several innovative projects. This resulted in the DAS Updated Five-Year Strategic Plan, along with new branding and marketing materials including a marketing logo, pull-ups, tchotchkes, and tablecloths which have been rolled out at a multitude of events and activities. These materials have enhanced promotion of Massachusetts Registered Apprenticeship.
• November 2025 National Apprenticeship Week/Massachusetts Apprenticeship Month Events:
  • MA Girls in Trades Apprenticeship Fairs – Dorchester & Holyoke.

• Massachusetts Workforce Partners in-person Meeting.

• MA Manufacturing Apprenticeship Meeting.

• Neighborhood Villages: “Make a Circle” event – Dorchester Strand Theatre.

• Massasoit Community College “Future of Work” Institute – Open House.

• Roxbury Worx Conference.

• MA Associated Builders & Contractors Local Craft Championship.

• Apprenticeship Council Quarterly Meeting at Local 12 Plumbers and Gasfitters.

• Helmets to Hardhats Ceremony – MA State House.

• Mass Bankers Association Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony.

• City of Boston Apprenticeship Fair.

• Boston Chamber of Commerce – MA Apprentice Network Convening.

• Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) Announced at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute Celebration.

• State Workforce Board Meeting including DAS Presentation – Local 17 Sheet Metal Workers.
• “For Kids Only” Tour – First-in-the-Nation full-time out-of-school time (OST) Apprenticeship Program.
• Tegra Medical Manufacturing Tour and Apprentice “Meet and Greet” Open House.

• Durfee High School Celebration of Pre-apprenticeship with MA & Northern NE Laborers, Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program Announcement, and Partnership with MassHire Bristol Workforce Board.

• Neighborhood Villages “Early Childhood Educators” Webinar – focused on MA Community of Practice and ECE Convenings.