Section

Trades

News and information for skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

Diverse skilled trades workers collaborating on a construction site, symbolizing the growing demand and shortage in the trades industry.

Skilled trades gap creates 1.4 million job openings by 2030

By 2030, America faces a deficit of 1.

Rick Donovan· Apr 22· 3 min
Diverse skilled trades workers on a construction site, with economic growth indicators in the background, illustrating the workforce crisis and its economic implications.

Skilled trades workforce crisis drives economic impact in 2026

Nearly 60% of companies hiring skilled trades workers report a critical shortage of necessary skills, creating a bottleneck in the U.

Rick Donovan· Apr 21· 3 min
Diverse young adults learning welding, carpentry, and electrical skills in a bright, modern training facility, symbolizing future career opportunities.

Scout programs open new facilities for skilled trades training

The Boy Scouts of America will open 50 new skilled trades education centers by 2025, backed by a $150 million investment.

Rick Donovan· Apr 21· 3 min
Diverse Detroit high school students wearing hard hats and safety vests, learning about skilled trades on a construction site.

Detroit high school students explore skilled trades careers

Over 100 Detroit high school students, including girls from the Detroit Public Schools Community District, recently got their hands dirty at a construction site in southwest Detroit, directly connecti

Rick Donovan· Apr 18· 3 min
Detroit high school students enthusiastically exploring various skilled trades booths, interacting with professionals, and learning about career opportunities at a workforce development expo.

Detroit teens explore skilled trades at workforce development expo

Last year, over 70% of Detroit high school students who attended the annual Skilled Trades Expo received job offers or apprenticeships before graduation, a stark contrast to national college graduate

Rick Donovan· Apr 18· 3 min
Young women actively engaged in learning and practicing various skilled trades in a modern workshop setting, showcasing empowerment and skill acquisition.

Riverside School Board Launches Jill of All Trades Initiative

In Pakistan's Tharparkar region, 50 girls are now learning graphic design and embroidery, part of a global surge in initiatives aiming to equip young people with practical skills, according to The Fri

Rick Donovan· Apr 17· 4 min
Diverse group of Nigerian artisans participating in a nationwide training program, learning construction and trade skills with focus and determination.

Nigeria Plans Nationwide Artisan Training Program for 100,000

A new nationwide program aims to train 100,000 construction artisans, but its official launch is nearly two years away, on April 21, 2026.

Rick Donovan· Apr 17· 3 min
Diverse students participating in hands-on training at a state-of-the-art trade school, symbolizing the future of skilled labor.

Diverse 2026 Trade School Initiatives for Workforce Development

California alone is deploying $37.

Rick Donovan· Apr 16· 4 min
Students actively learning HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades inside a modern, well-lit Pima Community College Building and Construction Technology Center.

Pima Community College Plans 2026 Opening for New Tech Center

Pima Community College's new 25,000-square-foot Building and Construction Technology Center, funded in part by over $1.

Rick Donovan· Apr 15· 3 min
Students training in a large, modern Pima Community College trades lab with new equipment, symbolizing expanded educational opportunities in skilled trades.

Pima Community College opens $1.2M expanded lab April 14, 2026

Pima Community College's Building and Construction Technology program is expanding its lab tenfold, from 2,500 to 25,000 square feet.

Rick Donovan· Apr 15· 4 min
High school students enthusiastically participating in hands-on skilled trades demonstrations at the BC Skills event in Abbotsford.

BC Skills event Abbotsford boosts vocational careers in skilled trades

Last year, over 5,000 students in Abbotsford attended a single event showcasing welding, carpentry, and culinary arts, far exceeding expectations for vocational career interest.

Rick Donovan· Apr 14· 3 min
Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison's $250 million investment strategy balancing advanced AI technology with the critical need for skilled tradespeople in construction and home improvement.

Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison bets $250M on AI and human skills

Despite investing in artificial intelligence to boost sales and productivity, Lowe's commits $250 million over the next decade.

Rick Donovan· Apr 13· 3 min
Split image showing a futuristic AI interface and a skilled tradesperson working, symbolizing the balance between technology and human expertise in the modern workforce.

Lowe's $250M for 250K Workers: Valuing Skills Amid AI Growth

Lowe's is committing a quarter of a billion dollars over the next decade to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople.

Rick Donovan· Apr 13· 3 min
Split image showing a robot arm and a skilled tradesperson, symbolizing the contrast between AI and human expertise in the trades.

Lowe's Invests $250M in Skilled Trades Amid AI Limitations

Lowe's is committing a quarter-billion dollars over the next decade to train 250,000 plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

Rick Donovan· Apr 13· 3 min
Diverse group of workers learning plumbing, carpentry, and electrical skills in a modern training facility, symbolizing Lowe's $250M investment in skilled trades.

Lowe's invests $250M to train 250,000 workers in skilled trades

Over the next decade, Lowe's plans to spend $250 million to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople, a number equivalent to nearly 80% of its current workforce, according to Black Enterprise .

Rick Donovan· Apr 12· 3 min
Split image showing a modern AI data center and skilled tradespeople learning carpentry and plumbing, symbolizing Lowe's investment.

Lowe's Pledges $250 Million for Skilled Trades Training

A Wisconsin town recently restricted AI data centers, while Lowe's is investing $250 million over the next decade to train 250,000 skilled trades professionals.

Rick Donovan· Apr 12· 4 min
Diverse group of people learning skilled trades like carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing in a modern training facility.

Lowe's Foundation Pledges $250M to Train 250K Workers by 2035

By 2035, the Lowe's Foundation plans to train 250,000 skilled trades workers with a $250 million investment, a scale of corporate workforce development rarely seen, according to Entrepreneur .

Rick Donovan· Apr 11· 4 min
Diverse students learning in a modern, well-equipped skilled trades workshop, symbolizing opportunity and the future of craftsmanship.

Lowe's Foundation Pledges $250M for Skilled Trades Technology Education

In Columbus, Georgia, a new TV docuseries sponsored by the Lowe's Foundation spotlights local craftsmen.

Rick Donovan· Apr 10· 3 min
Diverse construction workers on a busy site with Blue Ridge Community College in the background, highlighting a new training initiative.

Blue Ridge Community College offers free construction training to address labor shortages.

Local construction companies in the Blue Ridge region report a 20% increase in project delays due to a critical labor shortage, according to a Local Builders Association Survey.

Scott Ramirez· Apr 10· 3 min
Diverse young adults learning skilled trades like plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work in a modern workshop, symbolizing Lowe's $250 million investment in workforce development.

Lowe's Pledges $250 Million to Combat Skilled Trades Shortage

The Lowe's Foundation is pledging $250 million over the next decade to train plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, a direct response to the critical skilled trades shortage facing the U.S. construction and home improvement industries.

Rick Donovan· Apr 9· 4 min
Skilled tradespeople, including a plumber, electrician, and carpenter, working with tools in a workshop, with a faint AI interface in the background, symbolizing the enduring value of human craftsmanship over AI's physical limits.

Lowe's Invests $250 Million in Skilled Trades, Citing AI's Limits

The Lowe's Foundation is committing $250 million to develop the next generation of skilled trades professionals, a move its CEO says is critical in an era where AI's physical limitations are becoming clear.

Rick Donovan· Apr 8· 4 min
Young Nigerians in Kogi Central learning practical skills like carpentry, tailoring, and digital literacy in a bustling workshop, symbolizing KOSSIPA's empowerment program.

KOSSIPA Launches Skills Acquisition Program in Kogi Central Targeting 2,000

The Kogi State Social Investment Programme Agency (KOSSIPA) has launched a new skills acquisition program in Kogi Central, aiming to train over 2,000 applicants. This initiative seeks to address unemployment and foster self-reliance by providing practical, in-demand skills.

Rick Donovan· Apr 7· 3 min
Diverse skilled trades workers on a bustling construction site in Northwest Indiana, symbolizing the high demand for vocational careers and the region's booming job market.

Northwest Indiana Highlights Trending Skilled Trades Careers Amid Demand

Northwest Indiana faces an 'all-time high' demand for skilled trades workers, particularly in the booming construction market. This report details how vocational education and workforce development initiatives are addressing the labor shortage.

Rick Donovan· Apr 6· 3 min
High school students actively engaged in a modern skilled trades workshop, learning welding, carpentry, and automotive repair, symbolizing new education initiatives.

High Schools Launch New Skilled Trades Education Initiatives

High schools are launching new skilled trades education initiatives across North America, creating direct pathways to careers for students. These programs address a persistent demand for skilled labor, offering hands-on experience and industry-recognized certifications.

Rick Donovan· Apr 4· 3 min
A luxurious, newly renovated bathroom in Bluffton featuring a freestanding tub, walk-in shower, and modern vanity, symbolizing Premiere Builders' expanded remodeling services.

Premiere Builders & Remodeling Expands Bluffton Bathroom Remodeling Services

Premiere Builders & Remodeling has expanded its bathroom remodeling services in Bluffton, citing increased local demand and a focus on maintaining operational standards during its growth.

Rick Donovan· Apr 4· 3 min
Diverse students learning skilled trades in a modern vocational training center, including welding, carpentry, and electrical work, symbolizing investment in future workforce development.

New Investment Targets Skilled Trades Education as Builders Report Skills Crisis

PPG and the PPG Foundation have committed $10 million to advance skilled trades education, addressing a growing skills crisis in the construction sector. This funding aims to build a future pipeline of talent for critical roles.

Scott Ramirez· Apr 2· 3 min
A determined Kaigen Cobb, a Broome-Tioga BOCES student, meticulously working on a commercial roofing project during the SkillsUSA competition, showcasing his skill and focus.

BOCES Student Aims to Defend State SkillsUSA Competition Title

Broome-Tioga BOCES student Kaigen Cobb is preparing to defend his state title at the SkillsUSA competition on April 23, 2026. His previous success has already created tangible opportunities for his peers and highlighted the value of career and technical education.

Rick Donovan· Mar 31· 4 min
Young Kenyan students actively engaged in hands-on vocational training, utilizing modern equipment in a bright, inclusive workshop, symbolizing the success of a private-sector-led TVET model.

Kenya's Inclusive TVET Commitment Advanced by Award-Winning Private-Sector Model

Swisscontact was recently honored for its role in developing a new private-sector-led TVET curriculum in Kenya, a model that has informed a new national training framework.

Rick Donovan· Mar 31· 3 min
High school students in a modern workshop learning carpentry, welding, and electrical trades, symbolizing new initiatives boosting youth training and career pathways.

New Initiatives Boost Youth Training for High School Students in Skilled Trades

New initiatives are launching globally to boost youth training in skilled trades, addressing labor shortages and offering students practical career pathways. These programs include new funding, hands-on projects, and scholarship opportunities.

Rick Donovan· Mar 30· 4 min
Young Ghanaian artisans in Tamale proudly display their new start-up kits, including various tools for skilled trades, symbolizing empowerment and economic opportunity.

GEA and Partners Distribute Start-Up Kits to 481 Tamale Youth

The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and Mastercard Foundation have provided start-up kits to 481 young people in Tamale, Ghana. This initiative aims to equip new artisans with essential tools, enabling them to launch their careers and businesses.

Rick Donovan· Mar 30· 4 min