The New Jersey Works Act is designed to encourage businesses to partner with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations to develop pre-employment and work readiness training programs aimed at low- and moderate-income households. Under this legislation, businesses can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of the financial assistance they provide for approved training programs, which must last a minimum of 12 weeks and pay participants at least the minimum wage. Notably, businesses in the construction trades are excluded from participating in these programs. The bill allocates $3 million from the General Fund for its implementation and allows for a cumulative total of $12 million in tax credits per state fiscal year for businesses that establish approved training programs.

To ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, educational institutions or nonprofit organizations must submit a training plan for approval by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which will evaluate the program's capacity and appropriate use of funds. The bill allows multiple organizations to submit a single training plan, with one designated as the lead. Participants must be at least 16 years old, and eligibility is not contingent on having a high school diploma. The Department will also conduct a study two years after the act's implementation to assess the effectiveness of the training programs and tax credits, with findings reported to the Governor and Legislature.