By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
vmejicanos@afro.com
The Home Depot has launched a program that can help fix a labor shortage and create job opportunities in skilled trades. Home Depot’s Path to Pro Skills Program offers free, on-demand virtual training designed to prepare people for careers in construction, plumbing, electrical work and other in-demand fields. The training can be accessed in English and Spanish.
Although the jobs are in demand, and diversity has increased, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black workers make up 6 percent of the trades workforce despite making up 12 percent of the total U.S labor force. The numbers are similar in specific trades.
For example, in the electrical trade, only about 10 percent of electricians are Black and less than 2 percent are women, according to the Bureau. After training is completed, participants can create a profile in the Path to Pro Network, designed by the company to connect trained individuals with pro customers and consumers in need of skilled labor.
Anyone 18 and older can create a profile and start participating. Since the program launched in 2021 there have been over 60,000 graduates of the Skills Training Program and over 100,000 candidates that have participated, seeking jobs in the trades.
“We know that there are more than 400,000 open construction jobs today, and counting,” said Jenna Arca, director of the workforce development board at Home Depot. “We aim to help build the next generation of trades professionals by providing them with the free resources and training they need to launch a successful career and connect them directly with hiring professionals through the Path to Pro Network.”
For more information visit, pathtopro.com