TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton that would establish the New Jersey Workplace Skills Savings Program, creating portable, employee-owned savings accounts to help workers finance job training, licensing, and career advancement.

The bill, S-1841, would create the program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and appropriate $25 million to support state-matching contributions of up to $25 million for participating workers.

“As AI, technology, automation, and global competition reshape our economy, workers need flexible and affordable ways to upgrade their skills,” said Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Chair of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. “The Workplace Skills Savings Program puts workers in control of their own professional development by giving them a portable, dedicated funding source they can rely on throughout their careers.”

Under the bill, any individual 18 years of age or older who lives in New Jersey or works for a New Jersey employer and whose wages are subject to State income tax withholding would be eligible to participate. Enrollees could contribute up to $1,000 per year into an individual savings account, with the state providing a dollar-for-dollar match.

Funds from the accounts could be used for a range of employment-related training and credentialing expenses, including:

• Apprenticeship costs
• Licensing and certification exams, including commercial driver exams and professional licenses under Title 45
• Certification exams for registered apprenticeship programs
• Public school teacher licensing exams
• Retraining programs for unemployed workers
• Tuition or fees for vocational schools, technical schools, union training programs, and community colleges
• Other worker training-related expenses authorized by regulation

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development would administer the program. The legislation is part of a broader “Skills for All” package, which aims to expand earn-and-learn pathways and provide alternatives to traditional higher education. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, 22 percent of current jobs are expected to face disruption by 2030.

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