With 360,000 new welding professionals needed over the next three years, according to the American Welding Society, and a projected 6% growth in employment for HVAC technicians from now to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, skilled-trades educators are necessary to address the need, a press release from StrataTech said. In addition, a StrataTech-commissioned survey of 1,000 high school students found that 51% were interested in attending trade school.

“At StrataTech, we understand the importance of building the next generation of skilled-trades professionals, especially amidst the current labor shortage across our country,” said Mary Kelly, CEO and president of StrataTech. “The Home Depot shares our mission to provide access to education and employment opportunities for aspiring professionals, and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with them.”

Since launching in 2021, the Path to Pro program has been dedicated to promoting education in the skilled trades and has built a network connecting more than 40,000 aspiring trades professionals with companies looking for skilled workers, the press release said. As part of the partnership, Home Depot’s Path to Pro will collaborate with StrataTech’s schools, including The Refrigeration School Inc. in Phoenix and the Tulsa Welding School campuses, for open-house events so students can learn about the program and enroll in Path to Pro.

“The Home Depot remains committed to educating more people in the skilled trades and helping people build careers in the construction and home-improvement industries through our Path to Pro program,” said Jenna Arca, director of workforce development at The HomeDepot. “We’re excited to partner with StrataTech to expand our current training programs and create new opportunities for future pros.”

StrataTech’s content is available on Home Depot’s Path to Pro website now. For more information, visit www.pathtopro.com.