The U.S. is seeing a surge in the demand for skilled workers across industries critical to the country’s future, creating a milestone moment for the American people, according to a press release announcing the Alliance. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions could go unfilled by 2030, including for electrical workers, technicians, and builders. These open roles are vital to supporting critical industries — including infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing —and offer workers the chance to benefit from the higher wages and greater economic mobility that skilled trades jobs provide, the press release said,

The skilled trades are not only crucial to a thriving modern economy, they can be pathways to greater economic mobility, stable employment, and long-term financial security for millions of Americans and their families. Workers in infrastructure-related skilled trades earn above-average wages and often have access to employment benefits like retirement savings and health care — without requiring the cost of a four-year college degree.

Through the Alliance, the companies aim to multiply their impact by:

• Building the skilled trades pipeline by increasing Americans’ access and exposure to the trades. By raising awareness and providing clear, accessible pathways to the trades, more people can transition into fields that offer stability, high wages, and long-term opportunities in their careers and economic benefits to their communities.

• Scaling evidence-based workforce development approaches such as apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs that create opportunities to earn and learn on the job. These programs are vital options that can enable more workers to gain critical new skills and economic mobility. The Alliance will also partner with Burning Glass and Jobs for the Future on a report to help measure gaps, track progress, and share best practices.

• Expanding the partnership to include industry, labor, education, and nonprofit organizations in order to reach more workers and communities across the country. This builds on the existing work already being done alongside labor unions, trade associations, and professional organizations across the construction and electrical sectors — institutions that have spent decades building the expertise, local relationships, and pipelines that turn standard jobs into lifelong careers.