The Essential Economy — comprising industries like construction, manufacturing, energy, public services, transportation and logistics, and skilled trades — employs 95 million workers across 3 million businesses and drives over a third of the U.S. GDP.

Despite its critical role, this sector faces significant labor shortages and declining productivity, which threaten the nation’s economic growth and resilience.

Urgent collective action is needed to invest in and innovate for these essential workers who keep America running.