BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford, and Google form skilled trades alliance

BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), and Google announced the formation of the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades on July 21, 2026, a coalition aimed at expanding access to skilled trades training across the United States.

The four founding members said they have already independently committed to supporting skilled workforce training initiatives in 30 states. The alliance plans to focus on three areas: broadening access to trades training, scaling apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and expanding the partnership to include industry, labor, education, and nonprofit organizations.

The alliance also said it will partner with Burning Glass and Jobs for the Future on a report to measure workforce gaps, track progress, and share best practices.

According to a JLL report cited in the press release, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions could go unfilled by 2030, spanning roles in electrical work, construction, and technical fields.

Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, said the alliance aims "to support the workers who will build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure that underpins America's future competitiveness."

Ford CEO Jim Farley described the skilled trades workforce shortage as "a national crisis but also a generational opportunity," pointing to the tens of thousands of tradespeople employed across Ford's plants and dealerships.

Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, said the challenge of building a skilled trades pipeline "can only be addressed with collective action."

Carhartt President and CEO Linda Hubbard said the alliance would work to "raise awareness of the trades and open more pathways to meaningful careers."

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