Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces National Skilled Trades Initiative

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $90 million initiative to change how high school students prepare for and enter Registered Apprenticeships and high-wage, family-sustaining careers in the skilled trades. The initiative, which will be free for students, will launch in nine US geographies and focus on infrastructure-related fields including electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, welding, construction, carpentry, and auto tech. It is the first national program exclusively for high schoolers designed to provide direct pathways to careers in skilled trades, while also addressing acute labor shortages in targeted geographies.