Massachusetts: State of the State

ESAC State Report 2024 – Massachusetts
Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards, Boston, MA
Staffing: 15 Full-Time Employees
• Program Director
• Administrative Assistant
• Grants Management Specialist
• Quality Assurance Specialists (5)
• Office Operations (4)
• Apprenticeship Liaisons (3)
Hiring: DAS is currently backfilling and posting positions.
Key Initiatives:
• Healey-Driscoll Administration’s first budget increased apprenticeship funding by nearly
$4 million in fiscal year 2024. More than 1,000 new apprentices will become trained and employed
in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences and education.
• Appointed former State Representative Josh Cutler as new Undersecretary of Apprenticeship,
Work-Based Learning and Policy.
• Launched Early Childhood Educator Pathways: 250+ apprenticeships expected.
• Diversity Equity Inclusion & Accessibility Trainings with state and federal partners: Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission; State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies; Massachusetts
Office on Disability: 3rd annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month webinar.
• Enhanced focus on Pre-apprenticeship Programs:
✓ Greater Boston JATC PAP – Electrician (Green Energy) developed.
✓ Apprenticeship Building America Grant – Partnership with City of Boston Mayor’s Office of
Workforce Development to increase pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship outcomes.
✓ Increased presence at state-wide secondary education events and student fairs.
• Expanded the Occupation Eligibility for Registered Apprentice Tax Credit of $4,800 per apprentice
in the following sectors:
✓ Clean Energy
✓ Education
✓ Financial Services
✓ Healthcare
✓ Insurance
✓ Life Sciences
✓ Manufacturing
✓ Technology
✓ Social Services including Behavioral Health
State Partnerships & Workforce Partnerships:
• Division of Apprentice Standards works closely with our regulatory, licensing, and certifying Boards
to establish safe, sound, and high-quality apprenticeship programs: Division of Occupational
Licensure, Department of Public Health, Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians, Early
Education and Care, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, MA Rehabilitation
Commission, MA Office on Disability, MA Girls in Trades, MA Building Trades Union, among
others.
• National Sponsor Intermediaries: AIR, HCAP, Grow Your Own, Jobs for the Future, Safal Partners.
• Commonwealth Corporation, MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Development Boards, Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, MA Board of Higher Education, Massachusetts Apprentice
Network, among others.
Statistics FY’24:
• Number of Apprentices: 13,422
• Number of New Apprentices: 3298
• Number of Sponsors: 667
• Number New Sponsors: 52
Notable Achievements:
• DAS celebrated a robust Massachusetts/National Apprenticeship Week (MAW/NAW) featuring a
site visit to a first of its kind Job Corps pre-apprenticeship with Local 98 Operating Engineers,
Southwick, MA.
• Other National Apprenticeship Week Events:
✓ MA Girls in Trades Dorchester & Holyoke
✓ Registered Apprenticeship in Healthcare Celebration with Cape Cod Healthcare
✓ Apprenticeship Week Opening Kickoff-North Atlantic Carpenters, Dorchester
✓ YMCA of Greater Boston Early Childhood Educator Celebration
✓ Roxbury Worx Conference & Fireside Apprenticeship Chat
✓ MA Apprentice Network Event at Liberty Mutual
✓ Tegra Medical Manufacturing Tour and Apprentice “Meet and Greet”
✓ Quinsigamond Community College – Annual Conference, Worcester
✓ Apprenticeship CEO Roundtable with Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
✓ MassBioEd Apprenticeship Graduation, Cambridge