- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
This National Workforce Development Month, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) is recognizing the contributions of workforce professionals and programs that support jobseekers and employers. National Workforce Development Month serves as a reminder of the power of educational and vocational training, which not only empowers individuals to reach their full potential, but also drives economic competitiveness. Massachusetts’ workforce development programs work toward closing equity gaps experienced by the unemployed and underemployed. In collaboration with Commonwealth Corporation (Comm Corp), EOLWD is committed to ensuring that Massachusetts businesses have access to a pipeline of highly skilled workers. Follow along this Workforce Development Month as we spotlight different tools in the state’s toolbox.
This week we are highlighting one of Comm Corp’s Senior Program Managers, Meg Cummings, and the Career Technical Initiative (CTI) Program.
What do you do at Commonwealth Corporation?
My name is Meg Cummings, and in my role as a senior program manager for the Career Technical Initiative (CTI), I am the main point of contact for grant recipients who receive funding from Comm Corp to administer training programs that address the persistent demand for workers in manufacturing and construction/trades. At Comm Corp, program managers ensure our grantees fulfill their administrative requirements and program obligations, in addition to offering technical assistance insight and best practices to improve outcomes. We also brainstorm different ways to support our grantees and the participants they serve at a higher level, such as organizing convenings for partners to come together or establishing a library of resources all grantees can access.
Can you tell us more about the program?
The Workforce Skills Cabinet, a cross-government partnership, launched the CTI program in January 2020 to address the persistent demand for workers in manufacturing, construction, and trades by expanding training capacity for Massachusetts residents. CTI also provides opportunity for youth and adults to retrain for skilled occupations, especially those hardest hits by COVID, and transforms vocational high schools into Career Technical Institutes, running three shifts per day to expand enrollment of high school students and adults. Programs with CTI are designed to meet the hiring demands of employers and place graduates into employment upon graduation. To date, over 1,400 individuals have enrolled in training, with over 2,500 training seats funded through September 2025.
How can an employer participate in the program?
Comm Corp values employer participation in the CTI program, especially through input on the type of workforce needs that training providers can design curricula that provides jobseekers with industry-based credentials within a specific field. Employers can also participate by interviewing graduates of CTI programs, offering internship opportunities, job shadowing, and more. Employers are welcome to connect with their local Chapter 74 vocational-technical school directly if they have openings to connect to training programs or employers can partner with a Market Maker to get matched to training programs in their workforce development region.
What type of occupations does the program train and prepare jobseekers for?
CTI programs target occupations like:
- HVAC Mechanic and Installer
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
- Automotive Body Repairer
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Carpenter
- Welder
- Craft Laborer
- Building & General Maintenance Technician
- Diesel Technician
- Marine Trades Technician
- Groundskeeping & Equipment Operator
- Cook
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Biolab, Medical & Clinical Lab Technician
- CNC Machine Operator
- Machine Operator
- Electrical Technician
- Electronics Technician
- Robotics Technician
How does the program empower Massachusetts jobseekers?
The Career Technical Initiative upskills unemployed or underemployed jobseekers while supporting them on their path to upward mobility. By enrolling in training programs in construction trades and manufacturing, participants learn the skills needed for entry-level positions in fields that have high earning potential. Among the graduates hired upon completing training through CTI, 34% reported a salary range between $20-25 per hour, and 12% reported earning $25 per hour or greater.
Learn more about the Career Technical Initiative on Commonwealth Corporation’s website: https://commcorp.org/program/career-technical-initiative/
