Home Depot Aims to Fill Skilled Labor Gap with 15 Million Career Introductions by 2032 — The Home Depot, Inc.

Event summary

Home Depot launches Path to Pro Skills Explorers, a free curriculum to introduce middle and high school students to skilled trades careers.
The initiative aims to provide 15 million introductions to construction trades by 2032.
Program developed in partnership with Scouting America and piloted with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Curriculum includes hands-on modules in woodworking, plumbing, electrical, and painting, along with leadership and soft skills content.
Home Depot's Path to Pro programs have already trained over 200,000 individuals and certified over 70,000 people through nonprofit partnerships.

The big picture

Home Depot's initiative targets a critical gap in the skilled labor market, where demand for construction trades jobs is high but youth interest remains low. By introducing career exploration at an early age, the company aims to build a pipeline of skilled workers, addressing long-term labor shortages. The program's success could influence broader industry efforts to attract young talent to trades, potentially reshaping workforce development strategies.

What we're watching

Program Adoption: The pace at which educators, parents, and youth organizations adopt the Skills Explorers curriculum will determine the program's initial impact.
Labor Market Impact: Whether the initiative can significantly increase interest in skilled trades among young people, addressing the projected 4.1 million job openings in the next decade.
Scalability: How Home Depot scales the program to meet its ambitious goal of 15 million introductions by 2032, given the current low awareness of trade careers among youth.