Thanks to everyone that joined us for #FordAccelerate# this year! There were so many inspiring conversations about how we can work together to support skilled trades workers and help the next generation pursue these skills and develop their own careers as part of the #EssentialEconomy#. If you missed the livestream, you can catch up and watch the event on From the Road here: #Accelerate2026# #SkilledTrades#

We wrapped our second annual #FordAccelerate# summit and it was an incredible day. We brought together 700+ leaders and voices from across business, government, skilled trades, education, and more at @MichiganCentral to talk about the people and industries that keep our country moving. We heard different perspectives, shared ideas, and had thoughtful conversations about where change is needed. To close the event, I shared these takeaways with attendees outlining what I think are the key actions we need to collectively tackle to address this challenge: 1. Design the whole path to a career. We need to reach students, parents and career changers with messages that speak to their aspirations — the earlier the better. We need to expand apprenticeships and high-quality training tied to employers’ needs so students have a job when they finish. Make it possible to finish: childcare, transportation, and the chance to earn money while they study. A training seat is a start. A good-paying career is the goal. 2. Break the silos. Incredible work is happening across this country, but we shouldn’t work in isolation. Employers, schools, unions, towns, cities, and philanthropy each hold part of the answer. We can each run a great program — and still leave someone stranded between us. We don’t all have the same job, but our work has to connect. 3. This is about our national security. We cannot compete against other nations if we don’t have a strong industrial base. It depends on people who know how to build, install, maintain and repair… We can’t separate our ambitions for national defense and economic security from the workforce needed to deliver them. Think about how we mobilized during World War II. Today's challenge is different, but we need that same shared sense of purpose and sustained commitment. 4. We need a blockbuster public service campaign. Think about these messages: "Only you can prevent forest fires." “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” They taught us an important lesson for the greater good. That’s the ambition of our Ad Council campaign coming next year. A message people remember and act on. 5. Make it personal. We all have our own connections to the skilled trades. Our first job, the second chance, the apprenticeship that changed someone’s future. Spotlight the skilled workers – and the teachers, mentors, others who helped them succeed. That’s a short list, but a lot of work. I’m encouraged by all who came ready to roll up their sleeves and help build a stronger #EssentialEconomy# for America’s future. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s summit such a meaningful one. I asked everyone who was there to send in a commitment for the next year. Then when we come back in 2027, we’ll be a lot further along. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but let’s come back even prouder next year. Let’s get to work! Catch up on all the news from @Ford Accelerate here:

It was fun to be with @natebargatze today at #FordAccelerate#! He did an awesome job as emcee and helping us shine a light on the people who keep our communities moving. Nate, thanks for being here and bringing good energy to a big day.

Tune in this morning at 8:55am EST for @Ford’s second annual #FordAccelerate# summit at @MichiganCentral. Hear from leaders, experts and tradespeople on how we’re tackling the acceleration of America’s skilled trades. #EssentialEconomy# #Accelerate2026# #SkilledTrades#

The shortage of skilled trades workers is not a problem @Ford or any one company can solve alone. It's one we must solve together. That’s why I’m excited to share a new initiative Ford is launching alongside the State of Michigan (@migovernment), @jpmorgan, @Newlab and @MichiganCentral. The Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation and Transformation – or Michigan LIFT – is designed to help innovative companies and technologies move more quickly from idea to production. It connects innovators, suppliers and manufacturers with the support they need to scale. As we gather at #FordAccelerate# this week to focus on practical solutions for America’s industrial future, Michigan LIFT is one example of how we're taking action to strengthen the #EssentialEconomy# and build a more resilient manufacturing base. This type of model demonstrates how by working together we can expand and scale our collective impact. More details here: #Accelerate2026#

A flat tire or an inconvenient bus route shouldn't stand in the way of people getting to their training class or apprenticeship. Lack of transportation can be a simple but huge barrier. As a response to that, @Ford Philanthropy has been doing amazing work setting up transportation grants with local and national partners to help people get to the skilled trades training programs that will expand their career. Today they announced four new partnerships with local nonprofits in Detroit: #Accelerate2026# #SkilledTrades# #EssentialEconomy# #FordAccelerate#

At @Ford, we care a lot about the Essential Economy, which is the workers who build, fix, and maintain the physical world around us. These skilled trades are the backbone of American manufacturing and we need solutions for closing the skills gap, and providing the education and resources that will power the productivity and growth of the #EssentialEconomy#. Across industries and public and private sectors, we all need to work together. That's why this summer, Larry Fink from @BlackRock, Ruth Porat from Alphabet Inc. & @Google, Linda Hubbard from @Carhartt, and I launched the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades. Among other goals, we wanted to build a shared, trusted foundation of data on the state of skilled trades across America. So today, in partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and The Burning Glass Institute, we’re officially publishing — The State of America's Skilled Trades: A National Report. Take a look: The report examines the forces shaping supply and demand across occupations and regions, to show where workforce systems are working well, where they're under strain, and where focused action can make the biggest difference. Alongside the report, we're launching America's Skilled Trades Dashboard — a first-of-its-kind interactive tool that makes the data accessible in one place. It breaks down the data by occupation and state, making it easy to explore local labor market conditions, identify where the need is greatest, and compare progress across regions. The dashboard is available at We also set out to grow this movement. Today, we're welcoming 14 new partners - @ATT, Barton Malow, @blackstone, @CintasCorp, @DEWALTtough, Dycom, @Hersheys, @ManpowerGroup, @Meta, @Microsoft, @MilwaukeeTool, @nvidia, @Verizon and @Waymo. Each has already stepped up individually. Now we're stepping up together. You can read more about today’s news here: #FordAccelerate# #Accelerate2026# #SkilledTrades#