PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia Works has been awarded a $392,572 PAsmart grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to develop CyberPath PA, a new registered apprenticeship program aimed at training the next generation of information security analysts in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The initiative is part of a broader $6.6 million investment by Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration to expand workforce development programs across key sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and information technology.
CyberPath PA will focus on addressing the growing regional demand for cybersecurity professionals, an occupation projected to experience rapid job growth and offer six-figure median salaries. The program will operate as a group-model registered apprenticeship sponsored by the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital & Technology (PACT), with training support from the national tech-talent intermediary Apprenti.
The apprenticeship will consist of two cohorts, each beginning with 14 weeks of paid technical instruction followed by 12 months of mentored on-the-job training. Apprentices will be placed with at least three participating employers located throughout Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Berks, and Chester counties.
To make the program more accessible, Philadelphia Works will offer up to $2,500 per participant to help offset expenses such as childcare, transportation, industry certification fees, and accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Recruitment efforts will be coordinated through the ApprenticeshipPHL network and PA CareerLink® centers across the region.
Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker praised the effort as a model of employer-led training designed to equip Pennsylvanians with high-demand skills. H. Patrick Clancy, President and CEO of Philadelphia Works, emphasized the program’s commitment to equity, highlighting its potential to provide career pathways for veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, and residents of underserved communities.
PACT President and CEO Dean Miller noted the initiative’s strategic value to the region’s tech sector, describing it as a vital pipeline for diversifying the cybersecurity workforce while enhancing local industry capabilities.
CyberPath PA is expected to be formally submitted for registration in fall 2025, with the first group of apprentices beginning training in April 2026. The second cohort is scheduled to begin classroom instruction in July.
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