US Announces $150 Million Investment In Training Of H-1B

The US announced USD 150 million on Thursday to invest in training for middle-to-high-skilled H-1B occupations. Prominent among these sectors are IT, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, transportation.

This grant program would be used to upskill the present workforce and train a new generation of workers to grow the future workforce, the Department of Labor said.

The department's Employment and Training Administration has set out to streamline funding and resources to encourage a more integrated workforce system. The main motive is to push the applicants to provide an innovative mix of training strategies, including online, distance, and other technology-enabled learning.

The training models will include a broad range of classroom and on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, registered apprenticeship programs, customized training, and industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.

Public-private partnerships will leverage resources across federal, state, and local funding streams as well as from the private sector to support training, employment services, and supportive services to maximize access to employment opportunities, the official statement said.

All applicants must demonstrate that they are leveraging at least 25 percent of the grant funds requested, it added.