FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2026
Working for America Institute Receives Three-Year Grant from Ascendium Education Group to Build Union-Led Apprenticeship Programs
(Washington, DC) — The AFL-CIO Working for America Institute (WAI) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a three-year, $3 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to expand union-led registered apprenticeship programs into new industries and regions. This funding will allow the organization to partner with affiliated unions to develop joint registered apprenticeship programs led by labor-management partnerships, with a long-term goal of scaling inclusive, high-road apprenticeship models that consistently deliver access to skilled jobs, career mobility, and economic stability for workers across regions and sectors.
“The Working for America Institute has been training today’s workers for the jobs of tomorrow for more than 50 years. This generous Ascendium grant reaffirms WAI’s critical contribution to America’s workforce and will allow WAI to build quality registered apprenticeship programs in new industries across our country,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO and chair of the WAI Board of Trustees.
As the nonprofit workforce development arm of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor union federation, WAI’s relationships within organized labor bring a strong foundation of credibility to sectors of the workforce in many ways untapped by apprenticeship and workforce development. Unions in many sectors, including manufacturing, clean energy, transportation, the public sector and health care, could benefit from a more robust training infrastructure. As job markets evolve and face increased needs, critical skills gaps have emerged. Labor unions are uniquely positioned to fill these gaps by partnering with employers to create high-quality, scalable apprenticeship programs that meet modern workforce demands. The grant will help WAI transform entry-level or unstable employment into skilled, living-wage careers with advancement opportunities and help it build widening pathways into industries that urgently need skilled talent.
This work aligns closely with Ascendium’s commitment to expanding access to economic mobility through high-quality workforce training opportunities:
“At Ascendium, we invest in workforce training models that help learners from low-income backgrounds access high-quality postsecondary pathways and career opportunities that lead to economic mobility. We’re proud to support the AFL-CIO’s efforts to expand high-quality Registered Apprenticeship opportunities through strong labor-management partnerships that connect more workers to paid, earn-while-you-learn pathways tied to good jobs, industry-recognized credentials, and long-term career advancement. We believe these partnerships play a critical role in strengthening the workforce system and helping more workers access opportunity in today’s evolving economy.”
About WAI:
WAI is the AFL-CIO’s workforce development nonprofit organization, established in 1968. WAI brings together unions, employers, workforce intermediary partnerships, the workforce system and community organizations to create, expand and retain high-quality jobs. To learn more, visit workingforamerica.org.
About Ascendium:
Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers and media organizations from across the United States. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.
Media Contact:
Mia Jacobs