July 21, 2026
Four leading American companies – BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Company, and Google – have come together to launch the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, a new initiative focused on expanding access to skilled trades training and helping meet the nation’s growing workforce needs. The founding members of the Alliance have already independently committed to supporting skilled workforce training initiatives in 30 states across the U.S.
The United States is experiencing a surging demand for skilled workers across industries critical to the country’s future, creating a milestone moment for the American people. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions could go unfilled by 2030, including for electrical workers, technicians, and builders. These open roles are vital to supporting critical industries – including infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing – and they offer workers the chance to benefit from the higher wages and greater economic mobility that skilled jobs provide.1
The skilled trades are not only crucial to a thriving, modern economy, they can be pathways to greater economic mobility, stable employment, and long-term financial security for millions of Americans and their families. Workers in infrastructure-related skilled trades earn above-average wages in the U.S. and often have access to employment benefits like retirement savings and health care – without requiring the cost of a four-year college degree.2
Through the Alliance, the companies aim to multiply their impact in three key areas: