North America's Building Trades Unions and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced an expanded partnership to provide artificial intelligence training to skilled trades workers across North America.

The collaboration builds on an existing program that has trained 1,500 instructors in hands-on training centers nationwide. The expanded initiative will launch no-cost AI literacy courses and industry-recognized credentials aimed at millions of skilled craft professionals.

The partnership includes TradesFutures, a nonprofit organization that operates apprenticeship readiness programs in 34 states. TradesFutures enrolls more than 7,700 people annually in programs that connect participants to union construction apprenticeship programs.

"The people building the physical infrastructure of the AI economy, like electricians, ironworkers and pipefitters, deserve a share in its opportunity," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. "That's why we're expanding our work with NABTU, bringing free AI training to millions of skilled craft professionals across North America, while preserving the hands-on expertise that defines their craft."

The program will integrate AI education into NABTU's Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee model and deliver training through centers across all 50 states and Canada. The courses will be available on LinkedIn Learning and open to instructors, leaders, apprentices and skilled trades professionals. Participants can earn an AI literacy credential upon completion.

NABTU President Sean McGarvey said the collaboration makes AI training available to instructors, apprentices and journey-level workers across the union system while helping keep the building trades at the forefront of innovation.

NABTU represents over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada through 14 national and international unions. The organization and its contractor partners invest over $2.5 billion annually in more than 1,900 apprenticeship training facilities across North America.