Last Monday, June 29, President Trump formally nominated Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to serve as the permanent U.S. Secretary of Labor. Sonderling serves as Deputy Secretary and stepped in as acting secretary following the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer in April. He has focused on deregulation, retirement security and compliance-driven workforce policies, and has also been a vocal supporter of apprenticeships and upskilling.
Sonderling’s nomination may provide more opportunities for engagement on one of senior living’s most pressing challenges: workforce development. Argentum has met with senior Department of Labor officials and staff to relay policy recommendations to strengthen the long-term care workforce, including creating a long-term care-specific apprenticeship program and integrating a senior care track into existing DOL workforce development initiatives.
These recommendations build on Argentum’s successful Healthcare Apprenticeship Expansion Program (HAEP), a Department of Labor-supported initiative that provided workplace-based training and industry-recognized credentials to more than 7,600 workers across the country. While the administration has prioritized apprenticeships and skilled workforce development, Argentum continues to emphasize that long-term care faces an unprecedented labor challenge, with more than 20 million workers needed to meet the nation’s long-term care needs by 2040.
Argentum looks forward to working with Secretary-designate Sonderling to expand apprenticeship opportunities, strengthen career pathways in senior living, and advance workforce solutions that help providers meet the needs of a rapidly aging population.