Closing The Skills Gap
For the last two decades, we’ve lead the charge to bring skilled trades back into the national spotlight. We’ve made a loud and persuasive case for the trades, and we know it’s making a difference.
A PR CAMPAIGN FOR THE TRADES
We launched a simple idea in Texas: The country doesn’t have a job shortage. It has a skills shortage.
Too many people have been told the only path to success runs through a four-year degree. Meanwhile, millions of good, essential jobs are sitting open. This campaign is about changing that.
We’re working to reconnect people with opportunities that offer real pay, real purpose, and real demand—no diploma required.
WHAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY
We’re not just talking about the problem. We’re putting a spotlight on the solution—and backing it up.
- Changing the conversation around skilled work—what it is, who it’s for, and why it matters
- Putting real opportunities in front of real people, state by state
- Pairing awareness with action through our Work Ethic Scholarship Program
Starting In Texas
Everything's bigger in Texas—including the demand for skilled labor. Last year, we launched a focused effort in Dallas to connect hardworking individuals with real opportunities in Texas. The response was exactly what we expected—and more than we hoped for.
A Clear Message
After meeting dozens of employers and workers in Dallas, the message was clear: Texans are ready to work—they just need a path.
Why Now
Because waiting isn’t an option.
The skills gap isn’t a Texas problem. It’s an American problem. That’s why we’re taking this campaign on the road.
Millions of jobs go unfilled. Skilled workers retire faster than they’re replaced. Student debt continues to climb. And the work that keeps this country running—building, fixing, powering, maintaining—isn’t going away.
We’ve spent years making the case for the trades. Now, we’re scaling the effort to meet the moment.
Starting in Texas, expanding to Michigan and Pennsylvania, we're building a larger campaign to restore what never should have been overlooked in the first place.
Made Possible By
This work doesn’t happen without partners who believe in it.
We’re grateful to Wells Fargo and other supporters who understand that closing the skills gap is good for workers, good for business, and good for the country.
