Maine Continues to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities

June 2, 2026

For Immediate Release: June 2, 2026

Maine Continues to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities

AUGUSTA - Between grant opportunities, new programs being registered, and working sessions with CareerWise, Maine is continuing to prioritize and expand registered apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for youth.

Applications for Career Pathways Program - https://www.maine.gov/doe/pathways/mainecareerpathways grants were due June 1 - later this month, the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) and Education (DOE) anticipate making 2-4 awards of up to $250,000 for Maine school administrative units (SAUs), high schools, career and technical education (CTE) centers, adult education programs, and community-based organizations that have a history of partnering with schools, to develop Maine Career Pathways that support student and adult learner success through advising, postsecondary credits, work-based learning (including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship), and industry credentials in priority sectors (Early Childhood Education, Infrastructure/Trades, Healthcare).

On May 12 and 13, MDOL convened state leaders and key partners for a two-day working session focused on expanding youth apprenticeship, strengthening career pathways, and better aligning Maine's education and workforce systems to meet the needs of young people, employers, and communities across the state.

The convening brought together representatives from workforce development, labor, industry, K-12 education, career and technical education, community colleges, TRIO and philanthropic partners, public sector agencies, and state leadership, including Commissioners. CareerWise - https://www.careerwiseusa.org/ supported the sessions as a facilitation and strategy partner.

The meetings were designed to build shared understanding, identify opportunities for stronger coordination, and advance Maine's work as one of 10 states participating in the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center, a national effort to help states better coordinate and scale apprenticeship opportunities for youth and adults. Maine's engagement also aligns with its ongoing work with CareerWise to develop a statewide youth apprenticeship pathway model, to help make education and training options easier for young people to navigate. And for employers to access the talent they need to grow and remain competitive.

"Maine is at an important moment," said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman. "Employers across sectors need talent, young people need clearer pathways to careers and economic opportunity, and communities need strategies that help more people stay, work, and thrive here. This convening was about bringing the right people together to move from conversation to actionso we can build a system where education and work are part of the same journey."

"The Maine Career Pathways program represents how cross-collaboration among state agencies, schools, technical centers, and employers is beneficial in preparing Maine's students and adult learners for career opportunities in local high-demand, high-value occupations," said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. "The Maine Department of Education is proud to be leading this initiative in partnership with the Maine Department of Labor, and we look forward to the ways in which this work will strengthen and enhance the pathway from education to the workforce here in Maine."

Over the course of the two days, participants explored how Maine can better connect existing programs and investments, reduce fragmentation across the apprenticeship ecosystem, and create more coherent pathways for learners and employers. Discussions focused on priority sectors including advanced manufacturing, construction, civic and public sector careers, health care, and education.

A central theme of the convening was that Maine already has many strong assets in place to build on, including the emerging Maine Career Pathways initiative jointly advanced by MDOL and DOE. Through the pilot, Maine is supporting the development of coordinated career pathway models that connect advising, postsecondary credits, work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship, and industry-recognized credentials in priority sectors.

At the same time, participants noted greater alignment is needed to help programs scale and make the system easier to navigate for students, families, employers, training providers, and educators. Participants discussed how better coordination of federal funds, stronger communication across initiatives, and clearer roles among partners could help Maine build a more sustainable statewide apprenticeship strategy.

The sessions also focused on the experiences of young people entering todays economy, including affordability pressures, uncertainty about career pathways, and the impact of AI and technological change on entry-level work. Participants emphasized the importance of building durable skills, paid learning opportunities, and clearer on-ramps into careers that allow young people to earn, learn, and advance in Maine.

Key outcomes from the convening included:

• A shared commitment to expanding youth and adult apprenticeship opportunities in Maine
• Stronger alignment among education, workforce, public sector, and community partners
• Early identification of priority sectors and pathway opportunities
• Agreement on the need for a coordinating body or steering committee to guide the work
• Next steps toward defining partner roles, governance, and implementation priorities

The work will continue through Maines Future Ready Apprenticeship Center participation and its partnership with CareerWise. Next steps include forming a coordinating body or steering committee, identifying subcommittees or working groups, defining organizational roles and ownership, and developing strategies to scale apprenticeship opportunities across Maine.

"This work is ultimately about ensuring that more young people build a future in Maine, and strengthening the workforce that will power Maines economy for generations to come," Fortman said. "Those two goals are deeply connected. By bringing employers, educators, labor and industry leaders, public agencies, and community partners together, we can create pathways that are practical, visible, and meaningful for Maine people."