Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a phased pause in operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by June 30, 2025. This follows an internal review of the program’s effectiveness and financial sustainability, which projected that the current $140 million deficit would grow to $213 million in the next year. DOL plans to continue to support students during the transition by connecting them with training, education, and employment opportunities in coordination with state and local partners.
Argentum has worked with Job Corps as part of our broader workforce development initiative to meet the projected 20 million workers who will be needed across long-term care by the year 2040. Our work with DOL also includes programs through American Job Centers, and we recently concluded a Department of Labor Closing the Skills Gap grant (the Healthcare Apprenticeship Expansion Program), which supported more than 7,600 workers through workplace-relevant training and allowed participants to earn an industry-recognized credential.
Last month, Argentum met with senior staff in the DOL Secretary’s office, promoting the need for investment in long-term care workforce development programs, and offered policy solutions that can be implemented by the department. We specifically asked for their support of a long-term care specific apprenticeship program through the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), and to utilize existing DOL programs for a senior caregiver track, in line with language in the Caring for Seniors Act (H.R. 3000).
Argentum will continue its outreach to DOL to urge against the pause of the Job Corps programs and to expand its investment in proven workforce development programs that will be needed to meet the long-term care workforce in the coming years.
