Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

Real Jobs Rhode Island

Upcoming Changes to the Real Jobs Rhode Island (RJRI) Program

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening Rhode Island’s workforce, the Real Jobs Rhode Island (RJRI) program will be evolving to better align with the Governor’s Rhode to Prosperity initiative, which focuses on increasing incomes for working Rhode Islanders.

While RJRI trainings have successfully equipped participants with valuable skills for today’s job market, we’ve also heard from employers about the need for hands-on experience to ensure workers are fully prepared for their roles. To address this, all future RJRI-funded programs will be required to include work-based learning opportunities that provide participants with practical, on-the-job training.

To support this shift, the Department of Labor and Training (DLT) will not exercise optional renewals for existing RJRI award agreements beyond December 31, 2025. Instead, we will launch a new solicitation for RJRI partnerships in early summer 2025, and we strongly encourage eligible organizations to apply. Additionally, in spring 2025, we will release a request for short-term projects (Proposed Investments in Training, Capacity Building, and Hiring - PITCHes) that can be completed by the end of the year.

These updates are designed to create stronger career pathways and ensure Rhode Islanders have the skills and experience needed to thrive in today’s economy. More details will be shared in the coming weeks, and RJRI partnership advisors will be available to assist with this transition.

For updates and future funding opportunities, please stay connected with the Governor’s Workforce Board at the Department of Labor & Training.

 

trainees working on a boat

Founded in 2015, Real Jobs RI is a business-led workforce development initiative. Working with a network of employers, training providers, and community organizations, Real Jobs RI partnerships build workforce solutions that address industries’ unique workforce challenges.

Workforce solutions can include:

  • Placing new employees into immediate job openings
  • Upskilling current employees to advance skills or remain competitive
  • Helping business owners and entrepreneurs advance their ventures
  • Creating pipelines of talent for the future

Real Jobs RI is a win-win because companies get the talent they need to compete globally and grow locally, and Rhode Islanders get opportunities to thrive in a flourishing economy.

Would you like your business or organization to get involved? Real Jobs RI currently has partnerships in 16 different industries, and we are happy to connect you with one that can help meet your workforce needs. Please email dlt.realjobs@dlt.ri.gov to get started.

If you are an individual and would like to enroll in a Back to Work training program, a list of programs that are currently recruiting is available at backtoworkri.com/training.

 

Resources for Partnerships