California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on October 19, 2026 a $44.4 million investment to train 49,000 new apprentices through 131 programs statewide, according to the Employment Training Panel's announcement. The package includes $28.5 million in Employment Training Panel funding to support 64 apprenticeship programs, training an estimated 39,040 California workers. The announcement was made alongside Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Stewart Knox at the Kern County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Since 2019, California has supported more than 694,000 earn-and-learn opportunities, including nearly 267,000 registered apprentices, the administration said. Earn-and-learn programs span skilled trades, health care, education, and technology. Registered apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and lead to industry-recognized credentials; the state's figures are program projections tied to the newly announced funding.