What This Means for You
- The January jobs report shows 172,000 new private-sector jobs, including gains in construction trades.
- The Labor Department released a national framework to help workers build artificial intelligence skills.
- Up to $145 million in federal funding is available to expand Registered Apprenticeships in high-demand industries.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Private-sector employers added 172,000 jobs in January, and federal employment fell to its lowest level since 1966, according to the January 2026 Employment Situation Report cited by the U.S. Department of Labor.
In a February 11 statement, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said construction added 25,000 specialty trade jobs, which she attributed to new factory projects and broader economic policies. The department did not release additional analysis beyond the report figures in its statement.
The monthly Employment Situation Report, issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, measures job growth, unemployment and wage trends across the economy.
National Framework for AI Skills
On February 13, the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration released a national Artificial Intelligence Literacy Framework designed to guide schools, workforce programs and employers in building AI-related skills.
The framework outlines five core content areas and seven delivery principles for teaching AI literacy. AI literacy generally refers to understanding how artificial intelligence systems work, how they are used in the workplace, and the ethical and practical considerations involved.
The framework is intended to help states, employers and training providers design programs tailored to different industries and job roles. It follows earlier department guidance encouraging states to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds — federal dollars used for job training and employment services — to support AI skill development.
More information is available at:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2026/02/ETA-20260212-hi.jpg
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-03-25
$145 Million for Apprenticeships
Also on February 13, the department announced a funding opportunity of up to $145 million to expand Registered Apprenticeships nationwide.
Registered Apprenticeships are federally recognized training programs that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and lead to industry credentials.
The department plans to award up to five cooperative agreements over four years. The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program will provide funding to organizations that expand new or existing apprenticeship programs, with payments tied to measurable increases in apprentice participation.
Target industries include shipbuilding and the defense industrial base, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, nuclear energy infrastructure, information technology, healthcare, transportation and telecommunications.
The department said it intends to make at least one award focused on shipbuilding and defense occupations, contingent on receiving a qualified application. Another award is expected to focus on rapid scaling of apprenticeships across multiple industries.
The initiative builds on a previously announced $35.8 million American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund partnership with Arkansas.
Listening Tour Focuses on Workforce Needs
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer also concluded a four-state “America at Work” listening tour, visiting Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.
In Texas, she toured Watson Drill Rigs in Fort Worth. In Mississippi, she participated in a roundtable with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. In Alabama, she visited Boeing’s Jetplex campus in Huntsville, including missile and electronics manufacturing facilities. The tour concluded in Arkansas with a visit to L3Harris Technologies in Camden.
According to the department, the tour was intended to gather feedback from workers and employers on training, workforce development and industry needs.
Next Steps
The Labor Department said it will continue advancing apprenticeship expansion and AI skill development initiatives in coordination with state and industry partners.
Organizations interested in the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program can review the funding opportunity announcement through the Employment and Training Administration.
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