Securing Your Legacy: Building wealth through expanding access to well-paying jobs

Building wealth starts with opportunity – the chance to learn, earn, and take control of one’s financial future. At JPMorganChase, we believe that access to well-paying jobs is a key driver of economic mobility. Our support for job training programs – including apprenticeships, certificate programs and other workforce development initiatives – helps people secure good jobs and begin building wealth from day one.

These opportunities empower people to support their families, invest in homeownership, save for retirement, and build assets that can be passed on to future generations. By focusing on programs that help people earn while they learn, we’re helping to accelerate the path to financial independence and wealth creation.

We support initiatives that address workforce gaps, drive regional growth, and help people build wealth for themselves and their families. Through philanthropic funding, we help expand apprenticeship programs in sectors such as technology, health care, construction and manufacturing, opening doors to rewarding careers. Our latest efforts focus on increasing opportunities in skilled trades, particularly in construction and manufacturing, to meet growing workforce needs and strengthen local economies.

Earn while you learn

The workforce is changing rapidly. By 2031, 72% of jobs in the United States will require postsecondary education or training, making it more important than ever to expand access to programs that prepare people for these opportunities. While traditional college degrees are certainly a viable path to financial stability, earn-and-learn programs like apprenticeships, certificate programs, and on-the-job training offer additional routes to well-paying careers with strong economic demand. These programs combine hands-on training with immediate earning potential, allowing participants to gain practical, in-demand skills while building wealth from day one. Individuals can earn while they learn, tuition free, and use early income to support a family or invest in future milestones like homeownership, education, and retirement. These pathways help people reach their financial goals sooner, accelerating financial independence and laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity.

Why apprenticeships and job training programs benefit employees and businesses

Apprenticeships and other job training programs open the door to lasting opportunity. Graduates don’t just finish with new skills—they step directly into meaningful careers. Ninety percent of apprentices remain employed after completing their programs, earning an average salary of $80,000. Over a lifetime, apprentices earn $300,000 more on average than peers who never participate. For every dollar employers invest in an apprentice, they receive $1.44 in benefits, gaining a highly trained workforce and contributing to stronger local economies. These programs also help employers access skilled talent, improve retention, and strengthen their businesses – creating a cycle of shared growth. The financial benefits of apprenticeships extend beyond the individual, helping families achieve stability and supporting the economic health of their communities.

How JPMorganChase is expanding access to apprenticeships and skilled trades programs

JPMorganChase is helping expand access to high-quality jobs by supporting a wide range of job training, workforce development and apprenticeship programs, and by applying our business and policy insights and philanthropic investments. We work to advance policy reforms that promote economic growth by modernizing and expanding apprenticeship programs. At the state level, we work to increase access to work-based learning opportunities, helping more individuals build successful careers.

This month, we’re announcing over $7 million in philanthropic funding for apprenticeships and skilled trades programs. As demand for skilled workers grows in construction, infrastructure, and other key sectors, we are helping more people secure high-quality jobs and strengthen vital industries. These commitments include:

• $2,000,000 to the Maryland Philanthropy Network to support a public-private partnership expanding access to infrastructure jobs.
• $2,055,000 to the Climate Jobs National Resource Center Inc. to expand training and recruitment for next-generation infrastructure jobs through education programs and partnerships across multiple sectors.
• $1,000,000 to the National Fund for Workforce Solutions to support advanced manufacturing and construction workforce development.
• $500,000 to Everybody Builds to address systemic barriers for trades apprentices and graduates in Philadelphia, providing supportive services such as transportation, housing, tools, and equipment.
• $500,000 to the National Skills Coalition to expand training for next-generation infrastructure jobs through education programs and policy initiatives.
• $500,000 to Memorial Assistance Ministries Inc. to expand the Electrical Careers Pipeline Program, increasing training, support, and job placement for individuals pursuing electrical apprenticeships and careers in Houston.
• $450,000 to Columbia University Teachers College to explore how community colleges can train students for careers in sectors shaping the future of energy and construction.

Investing in skills, shaping financial futures

Our commitment to expanding access to quality jobs in growing sectors is part of our broader focus on helping families and communities build, protect, and pass on wealth. Whether it’s supporting homeownership, small business growth, financial health or well-paying careers, we are committed to creating opportunities for lasting financial security.

By supporting programs that help people gain in-demand skills, earn while they learn, and move into stable, well-paying careers, we’re helping individuals and families lay the groundwork for financial stability and resilience. These investments don’t just benefit participants; they strengthen local economies, build resilient communities, and create pathways for future generations to thrive. Securing your legacy means more than accumulating wealth—it’s about opening doors, building stability, and ensuring a brighter future for those who follow.