Four major companies have come together to launch the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to skilled trades training and helping address the nation's workforce shortage.
Representatives from BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Co. and Google said they have already committed to supporting workforce training initiatives in 30 U.S. states. Through the alliance, they plan to increase awareness of careers in the skilled trades, expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, and bring together industry, labor, education and nonprofit organizations to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
The effort comes as demand for skilled workers continues to outpace supply. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions could go unfilled by 2030, affecting industries including construction, infrastructure, energy and manufacturing.
The alliance also plans to work with Burning Glass and Jobs for the Future to develop a report measuring workforce gaps, tracking progress and identifying effective workforce development practices.
