Major trades training funding announced

Lowe’s Foundation said on April 7 it will spend $250 million over 10 years to help train 250,000 electricians, plumbers, heating and cooling technicians, and other trades workers by 2035. (corporate.lowes.com) The money will flow through Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program, which funds community and technical colleges and nonprofit groups that recruit and train people for skilled-trades jobs. Lowe’s said the new pledge expands a 2023 commitment of $50 million over five years to prepare 50,000 workers. (lowesfoundation.org) Home Depot is pushing a parallel effort through Path to Pro, a free training and job-matching platform that offers self-paced online courses in English and Spanish and lets users build profiles for employers. The company says the program includes lessons on jobsite safety, tools, materials, communication, and the basics of several trades. (corporate.homedepot.com) Home Depot’s broader foundation-backed push also includes grants for schools and nonprofits with existing construction training programs. On March 10, The Home Depot Foundation said it was putting $1 million into Path to Pro Education Grants, with awards of up to $10,000 for equipment, shop upgrades, and other training needs. (corporate.homedepot.com) Both companies are aiming at the same labor problem: too few trained workers for construction and home-improvement jobs. Lowe’s cited an Associated Builders and Contractors estimate that the industry needs 349,000 net new construction workers in 2026 to meet demand. (corporate.lowes.com) Home Depot frames the shortage as a retirement issue as well as a hiring one. Its Path to Pro materials say 40% of current construction workers are expected to retire by 2031, while millions of trade jobs are projected to open over the next decade. (pathtopro.com) The programs are built around different models. Lowe’s is directing philanthropic dollars to outside training partners, while Home Depot combines free online instruction, a hiring network for contractors, and foundation grants for schools and nonprofits. (lowesfoundation.org) (pathtopro.com) The near-term test is whether those pipelines produce workers fast enough for local employers. Lowe’s says its target is 250,000 job-ready tradespeople by 2035, and Home Depot says more than 70,000 participants have already been certified for trades careers through its nonprofit partners. (lowesfoundation.org) (prnewswire.com)