The New Jersey Earn and Learn Program is established to incentivize employers to provide structured apprenticeships and paid internships that lead to permanent employment. This program, overseen by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in collaboration with the Department of Education and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will offer tax credits to employers. The tax credits include a base amount of $3,000 for each individual enrolled in an apprenticeship or internship, with additional credits of $1,000 available for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and for those enrollees who transition to full-time employment. The program is limited to a three-year duration per individual enrollee.

The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, will certify employer eligibility and oversee the program's implementation. An annual report evaluating the program's effectiveness, including participation rates and job placements, will be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. The program is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, with provisions for anticipatory administrative actions to facilitate its launch.