NASWA Selected as GitLab Foundation Grant Recipient
WASHINGTON — The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), its consulting arm, the Center for Employment Security Education and Research (CESER), and the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) were recently selected to receive funding through the third annual AI for Economic Opportunity Fund.
The grant includes $250,000, along with technical support and resources, to advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in strengthening Registered Apprenticeship programs and expanding economic mobility.
“This investment enables NASWA to responsibly integrate AI into the public workforce system—strengthening how we connect students to in-demand careers and helping employers access the talent they need,” said NASWA President and CEO Scott B. Sanders. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to modernizing workforce services and expanding access to economic opportunity.”
Through this grant, NASWA and NYSDOL will jointly develop an AI-powered service that matches an individual’s expressed interests and existing skills to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.
“As registered apprenticeships evolves with the times, so must the ways New Yorkers are able to explore viable career pathways,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “This funding will help us utilize artificial intelligence to rapidly connect more New Yorkers to registered apprenticeship opportunities, putting them on the path to prosperous new careers they will love.”
The partnership aims to:
- Increase awareness of Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the State of New York
- Use natural language models to improve matching between students and job seekers to registered apprenticeship opportunities
- Expand the initial pilot in New York to additional states and support the expanding number of apprenticeship opportunities
For more information, please see the official GitLab Foundation Announcement.
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About the Center for Employment Security Education and Research: CESER is the 501(c)(3) consulting arm of NASWA. It provides education, research, analysis, and information technology support focused on workforce development and unemployment insurance issues. CESER offers a broad range of research, training, consulting, and information technology services to state workforce agencies and their federal partners, with an interest in unemployment insurance and employment and training services.
About the New York State Department of Labor: Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s continued support of this successful workforce development model, New York State remains a national registered apprenticeship leader. As of December 2025, NYSDOL supported more than 18,000 apprentices across more than 900 programs statewide offered by nearly 600 new sponsors. In 2025 alone, NYSDOL approved 107 new programs, 44 new sponsors, and 17 new trades. Learn more by visiting the NYSDOL registered apprenticeship webpage.
