As Mississippi prepares for growing workforce shortages, Gov. Tate Reeves is proposing a change that would put the state — rather than the federal government — in charge of overseeing registered apprenticeship programs.
The recommendation, included in the governor’s fiscal year 2027 executive budget, would convert the Office of Apprenticeship into a State Apprenticeship Agency. While apprenticeships would continue operating the same way for workers and employers, state leaders say the shift would allow Mississippi to more directly shape training programs tied to high-demand jobs, economic growth and long-term workforce needs.
State seeks control of apprenticeship oversight
If approved, the proposal would shift oversight of registered apprenticeships from the federal government to the state, without changing how programs operate day to day. Employers would still hire workers directly and provide paid, on-the-job training paired with classroom instruction through community colleges or other education partners.
Tanya Neely, director of the Office of Apprenticeship at the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, said the transition reflects years of preparation as the state has expanded its role in workforce development.
“We’ve been talking about this for several years,” Neely said. “We’re just at a position now where we have the experience, the knowledge and the relationships to go ahead and make that transition.”
That structure — earning wages while learning skills — is what makes apprenticeships appealing to workers like Rick Turner.
Turner said he has always preferred jobs that provide training on-site rather than requiring workers to seek training elsewhere.
“In my opinion, on-the-job training is the best,” Turner said. “If I were entering a labor market, that’s what I would look for always be some place that would train me rather than looking for a training site.”
Turner said his first job after high school required him to learn skills while working, allowing him to gain experience without stepping away from a paycheck.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for people who want to get ahead,” Turner said.
State leaders say policies that strengthen apprenticeships help workers build skills while maintaining financial stability, especially as labor demands increase.
Bill Ashley, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, said apprenticeships are also critical for employers as Mississippi attracts major economic development projects that rely on skilled labor like agriculture.
“It’s very important given the amount of investment that some of these farms have put into the state that they have opportunity to essentially develop skilled labor … to help make sure that facility works to the best and most productive capacity,” Ashley said.
Plan tied to broader workforce strategy
The apprenticeship proposal is part of a broader workforce strategy outlined in the governor’s budget recommendation.
One item allocates $1.4 million to expand training infrastructure through the proposed Accelerate Mississippi Talent Solutions Center, a joint effort by AccelerateMS and the State Workforce Investment Board. State estimates indicate Mississippi will need to train about 19,000 additional workers over the next decade to meet labor demand.
Courtney Taylor, executive director of workforce development at AccelerateMS, said the first regional training center would likely focus on the Jackson area and support both employers and training providers that need additional space or resources.
“It gives us the ability to support industry and support our training providers who need additional space, but don’t have access to it — can’t do it because (they can’t) operate at a loss,” Taylor said. “The goal is making somebody that knows enough to both go to work and continue their education so that they can move up the ladder faster.”
Officials estimate the centers could help place more than 2,000 workers into high-demand fields, including construction trades, broadband, energy, HVAC, welding and industrial systems.
The proposal builds on existing initiatives such as the Mississippi Apprenticeship Accelerator, launched in 2024 with a $2 million investment to support about 600 new apprentices, and Mississippi Reconnect, which offers short-term training programs for unemployed and underemployed residents.
This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at the University of Southern Mississippi.