Expanding Opportunities in Skilled Trades for K-12 Students and Military Families

Strategic Insights -

The Home Depot Foundation has invested $10 million to broaden access to skilled trades training and education, introducing more young people to career opportunities in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. The partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America is part of the Foundation's Path to Pro initiative, which aims to fill the skilled labor gap by empowering students to hone new skills and strengthen the future of the construction industry. The collaboration will launch a two-year pilot in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Houston, reaching over 1,000 children and teens.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Home Depot Foundation has invested $10 million to expand access to skilled trades training and education, with a focus on introducing young people to careers in the construction trades.
  • The partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America is part of the Foundation's Path to Pro initiative, which aims to fill the skilled labor gap and empower students to hone new skills.
  • The collaboration will launch a two-year pilot in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Houston, reaching over 1,000 children and teens and providing them with hands-on experiences and opportunities to apply their skills through community-based projects with Team Depot.
  • The skilled trades offer some of the most promising career paths, yet many young people lack awareness of or access to these opportunities.
  • Despite approximately 400,000 job openings in the skilled construction trades, only a small fraction of young workers entering the labor market express interest in pursuing careers in these fields.
  • A workforce gap in the skilled construction trades could cost the residential construction industry $10.8 billion due to longer build times and a loss of production on single-family homes.
  • Early exposure to skilled trades careers is vital to build a sustainable pipeline of talent, as many skilled trades workers are retiring in the coming decade.
  • The partnership with BGCA will help open doors to skilled trades careers, empowering thousands of youth to discover their potential and build great futures.

Statistics:

  • $10 million: The amount invested by The Home Depot Foundation to broaden access to skilled trades training and education.
  • $1 million: The amount invested in the partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America to introduce more young people to career opportunities in the construction trades.
  • 1,000: The number of children and teens expected to participate in the two-year pilot in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Houston.
  • 400,000: The approximate number of job openings in the skilled construction trades.
  • $10.8 billion: The potential cost to the residential construction industry due to a workforce gap in skilled construction trades.
  • 65,000: The number of candidates in the Path to Pro Network seeking employment in the skilled trades.

Sources:

  • The Home Depot Foundation
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of America
  • HBI
  • 100 Black Men of America
  • Folds of Honor
  • Construction Ready
  • SkillPointe Foundation
  • The Home Depot (NYSE:)