In an expansion of previous programs, the giant DIY retail chain has partnered with a number of corporations, including General Motors and ATT.
Working through its Lowe’s Foundation charitable arm, the retailer is aiming to train a million new skilled trades workers by 2035. Other companies involved with the campaign include Nvidia, Bank of America, Carrier, DEWALT and Duke Energy. Earlier this summer, tech leaders Meta and Google invested a collective $165 million into the trades pipeline via their own programs in an effort to meet labor demand.
Lowe’s said that working with the coalition, its Foundation and member firms will “aim to change the perception of skilled trades careers, invest in and scale proven training methods and establish measures that will demonstrate program progress from training to employment.”
Just in 2026, the Associated Builders and Contractors estimated the need to attract some 350,000 new workers to keep up with current construction demand. “The next industrial revolution won’t be built by algorithms alone,” said Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison in announcing the new initiative. “It will be built by the millions of skilled trade professionals who power, connect and move this country forward.”
