New Mexico adds 35 apprenticeship programs under Lujan Grisham, now training 2,607 workers
New Mexico has nearly doubled its registered apprenticeship programs since 2019, adding 35 new programs that are now training 2,607 workers in careers paying an average of $80,000 per year, state officials announced Tuesday at Apprenticeship Day at the State Capitol.
Eleven programs launched in 2025 alone, targeting emerging climate-ready and infrastructure occupations, including fiber optics installers, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, electricians, pipefitters and sheet metal workers, positioning New Mexico to build a skilled workforce for high-demand sectors. This includes traditional apprenticeships in the skilled trades, as well as innovative Registered Apprenticeship Programs in broadband infrastructure, media arts, and education.
“Governor Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico legislature have doubled down on apprenticeship because it is the gold standard in training,” said NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “Historic investments in apprenticeship have helped businesses grow and innovate while providing individuals with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive through the earn-while-you-learn model.”
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions hosted Apprenticeship Day at the State Capitol on Feb. 17, bringing together more than 19 apprenticeship sponsors representing industries statewide. Sponsors met with policymakers and stakeholders to share how apprenticeship programs are strengthening New Mexico’s economy, creating career pathways, and meeting the workforce needs of high-demand sectors.
In 2024, the Governor and Legislature established the Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund and invested $30 million to create a multi-year funding source to support apprenticeships. NMDWS also received $5.95 million in DOL’s three-year competitive grant (SAEF2), supporting the state’s capacity to pay for new pre-apprenticeship programs in construction, infrastructure, broadband, and clean energy sectors, while supporting incentives for more participants in Registered Apprenticeship Programs in those same industries.
The grants provide direct support services, including books, tools, and toolboxes for apprentices enrolled in designated programs, helping to reduce financial barriers and improve completion rates. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), 94% of apprentices retain employment after completing the programs.
More information on apprenticeship opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship, is available on the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions website: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/apprenticeship and https://www.dws.state.nm.us/POP.