At ACCELERATE the Essential Economy at Michigan Central Station, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley opened the day with a challenge: "We’ve made a lot of progress in the past year. Today is about building on it "
Why it matters: The U.S. will need to fill an estimated 1.7 million skilled trades openings each year through 2035. Closing that gap means helping people discover the trades, complete training, get to work, and build businesses. This week, Ford and its partners shared how they plan to advance each piece of that puzzle.
“You can have the best blueprint in the world, but somebody still has to know how to cut the steel, wire the panel, and time the engine.”Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company
The Problem, in Numbers
The State of America's Skilled Trades: A National Report, released today by the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, gives employers, educators, and policymakers a shared set of data.
- The gap: For every 100 skilled trades workers needed, training pathways are producing just 55 people.
- The awareness problem: People are interested in the skilled trades; they simply don't know where to start.
- The drop-off: People are enrolling in skilled trades training programs, but only 1 in 2 finishes.
Read more about the Alliance, its new members, and the report here.
“We're investing not just in capital, but in people and their futures, like we invest in people's future for retirement.”Larry Fink, Chairman & CEO of BlackRock, a founding member of the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, on investing in America.
What's Being Done
1. Light the path. The Ad Council announced a national public education campaign to help the next generation of skilled trades professionals find their way in and debuted a sizzle of where the campaign is headed in 2027.
- Why it's needed: Ad Council research found that 38% of students would consider a trades career, but only 11% plan to pursue one after high school. The barrier is limited knowledge, while stigma also lingers.
- Who it's for: Parents are the biggest influence (76%), so the campaign will speak to families and students.
- Who's behind it: Founding partners are Ford Motor Company, Dycom, The Home Depot, and the Wallace Foundation. The campaign launches in 2027, and the Ad Council says there is room for more partners.
See the sizzle for where the campaign is headed and read more from Derrick Feldmann, Managing Director, Ad Council Research Institute, here.
“What if we're entering a time where the color of collars is actually in the way?”Mike Rowe, CEO of mikeroweWORKS, when talking about tropes around blue and white collar jobs.
2. Get people to the finish line. Ford Philanthropy is expanding transportation and mobility support in big cities and small towns, so lack of transportation doesn't get in the way of people pursuing their career ambitions.
Read more from Mary Culler, president of Ford Philanthropy, here.
3. Make it more affordable. Ford Pro is launching Ford Pro Advantage, a new, industry-first certified pre-owned program for Class 1–7 commercial vehicles. Through Ford Pro's national network of more than 700 Commercial Vehicle Centers, the program provides customers with access to affordable trucks and vans.
Read more from Matt Atkenson, executive director, Ford Pro N.A. Sales & Operations, here.
4. Connect the system. Ford, JPMorganChase, the State of Michigan, Michigan Central, and Newlab have launched the Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation & Transformation (Michigan LIFT). It is designed to connect manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators with the demand, capital, workforce, and technology needed to scale.
- Supporting training: Ford Philanthropy and JPMorganChase announced $550,000 in joint support for Focus: HOPE, a Detroit-based nonprofit that provides education and job training.
Read more from Liz Door, chief supply chain officer at Ford, here.
5. Work together. As demand for skilled workers surges, the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades will expand with new members including AT&T, Barton Malow, Blackstone, Cintas Corporation, DEWALT, Dycom, The Hershey Company, ManpowerGroup, Meta, Microsoft, Milwaukee Tool, NVIDIA, Verizon, and Waymo.
“I'm going to fix my own car, and I'm going to buy my own parts, and I know how to do it myself.”Dallis Sutton, a student at Breithaupt, on the importance of her work in the skilled trades.
The Takeaway
The skilled trades workforce gap is a challenge larger than any one company. It’s also about more than just filling jobs. It’s about whether America can build what it needs, whether a young person can see a future here, and whether hard work can still support a family and a secure retirement.
As Jim said today, “I really believe we can change America for the better.”
Let’s get to work.
Kirsty McInnes is a member of the Ford communications team.
