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#

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#

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#

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#

The Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades is growing. Fourteen new members join BlackRock, @Carhartt, @Ford and @Google to help expand pathways into skilled trades careers across the country. The Alliance is also releasing its first national report, taking a closer look at the challenges and opportunities facing America’s skilled trades workforce. The report finds the U.S. will need to fill an estimated 1.7 million skilled trades openings each year through 2035, while training programs produce just 55 workers for every 100 needed. @ATT, Barton Malow, @blackstone, @CintasCorp, @DEWALTtough, Dycom, The @HersheyCompany, @ManpowerGroup, @Meta, @Microsoft, @MilwaukeeTool, @nvidia, @Verizon and @Waymo

BlackRock Future Builders™ is helping address America’s skilled trades gap by expanding access to training for stable, well-paying careers. John Kelly, BlackRock’s Global Head of Corporate Affairs, visited @TheIronworkers Local 5 in Maryland to see how its four-year apprenticeship program prepares future ironworkers through hands-on training in climbing, rigging and welding.