The skilled trades sector faces a looming crisis. 2.1 million jobs could go unfilled by 2030, according to projections. Milwaukee Tool has joined the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, adding its expertise to tackle this challenge.
The Alliance, founded by Google, BlackRock, Carhartt, and Ford, aims to strengthen the pipeline of workers, scale successful training programs, and expand opportunities. Milwaukee’s involvement brings a 100-year legacy in the trades and a commitment to workforce development. From the outset, the Alliance committed to supporting workforce initiatives in 30 states.
Google’s $50 million investment aims to train 300,000 workers. While ambitious, the Alliance’s report highlights a stark reality: training programs produce only 55 workers for every 100 needed, with half of enrollees failing to complete their courses. This gap shows the urgency of the Alliance’s mission and the need for innovative solutions to retain and graduate more trainees.
Milwaukee’s addition to the Alliance, now with over a dozen members, brings practical experience. The company supports 16,000 apprentices annually and works with 1,300 training centers. Its expected investment in workforce development by 2030 exceeds $200 million. Additionally, Milwaukee collaborates with 25 national union and non-union partners, further amplifying its impact on skilled trades education and training.
Milwaukee’s Commitment to the Trades
Milwaukee Tool Group President Shane Moll emphasized the company’s alignment with the Alliance’s mission. “Milwaukee Tool has built our business around the skilled trades,” he said. “America grows when the trades grow.” This philosophy is reflected in Milwaukee’s broader contributions, including investing more than more than $2 billion in its U.S. operations over the last decade and creating over 4,000 American jobs in the past five years.
A Collaborative Approach to a Growing Crisis
Milwaukee’s entry into the Alliance demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the trades. With its resources, expertise, and more than 11,000 people in the U.S. across 34 facilities, the company is well-positioned to make a meaningful impact.