New alliance seeks to address looming shortages in the skilled trades workforce
Google, Ford, BlackRock, and Carhartt are joining hands to expand access to skilled trades training in the wake of a looming shortage that could see millions of skilled trades positions unfilled by 2030.
The four organisations announced in a joint release the launch of the new Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, which aims to expand their independent efforts to support skilled workforce training initiatives.
"This Alliance will work to help fill hundreds of thousands of open jobs in skilled trades, creating real career opportunities for people, and giving them highly in-demand, transferable skills," the CEOs of the four companies said in a commentary for Fortune.
"This will increase their own economic options and mobility as they build the infrastructure for America's future economic success. We are starting with training in 30 states and have the goal of expanding across America."
According to the CEOs, they are working together to multiply their impact in three key areas:
- Building the skilled trades pipeline by expanding access and increasing exposure to the trades for more Americans
- Scale evidence-based workforce development approaches such as investing in apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships programmes that can generate opportunities to learn and earn on the job
- Expand the partnership to like-minded industry, labour, education, and nonprofit organisations to reach more workers and communities
"Google is proud to help launch the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, expanding on our years of investment to both strengthen pathways to enduring opportunities in high-demand careers and increase economic opportunity for communities across the country – powered by collaboration across industry, civil society, and government," said Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google.
Looming skilled trades shortage
The new alliance comes in the wake of a shortage forecast for the skilled trades workforce, where 2.1 million positions are predicted to be left unfilled by 2030.
The shortage may include around 130,000 electrical workers by 2030, and more than 350,000 new auto-technicians by 2029.
"That means 2.1 million opportunities for American people and their families, who can benefit from good pay and greater economic mobility that skilled jobs can offer," the four CEOs said in the Fortune article.
"No single company or industry can prepare a country for this opportunity on its own. However, we can help address these challenges and strengthen pathways to opportunity for people and their families – if we act together."
Organisations have been taking steps to introduce skilled trades training in the wake of the AI infrastructure boom. Meta recently unveiled a free workforce training programme focused on skilled trades, as it noted that its AI infrastructure requires an "incredible workforce to make it a reality."
