Business Roundtable Launches Skilled Trades Initiative to Address Worker Shortages

The Business Roundtable has launched a new workforce initiative to address worker shortages in skilled trades, co-championed by CEOs of Lowe's and Carrier Global Corporation. The initiative will collaborate with companies, experts, and non-profit groups to develop resources, training, and tools to help close the talent gap in skilled trades. The initiative will focus on trades such as industrial and manufacturing, construction and building, maintenance and repair, and energy trades. Business Roundtable member companies will have access to forums, tools, workgroups, and connections with professional associations to support their talent pipeline development and worker mobility.

The Business Roundtable (BRT), a prominent organization representing leading American companies, has recently unveiled a comprehensive workforce initiative aimed at addressing the growing shortage of skilled trades professionals. Co-championed by Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's Companies, Inc., and David Gitlin, Chairman and CEO of Carrier Global Corporation, the initiative seeks to close the talent gap in critical sectors such as industrial and manufacturing, construction and building, maintenance and repair, and energy trades.

The new Skilled Trades Initiative will collaborate with various companies, experts, and non-profit organizations to develop resources, training programs, and tools designed to strengthen talent pipelines in high-demand sectors. BRT member companies will gain access to forums, tools, workgroups, and professional associations to support their talent pipeline development and worker mobility.

The initiative was launched at the Business Roundtable CEO Workforce Forum in Washington, D.C., where leaders discussed strategies to adapt to a changing workforce and ensure workers receive the necessary training and skills. The forum emphasized the importance of education, training, and opportunities for professional growth, with a focus on making America’s skilled trades the engine of the country’s next era of growth.

According to the BRT, the initiative is particularly timely given the projected 425,000 U.S. service tech job openings in the Carrier industry alone over the next decade. By working together, sector by sector, company by company, the initiative aims to open doors for more workers and help close the talent gap.

This initiative aligns with BRT’s broader mission to promote economic growth and job creation. The organization has previously highlighted the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which has led to increased domestic investment, job creation, and wage growth. The new Skilled Trades Initiative builds on this momentum by addressing a critical workforce challenge that impacts multiple industries.

References:
[1] Business Roundtable. (2025). Business Roundtable Launches New Skilled Trades Initiative. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/eMxxpJT7
[2] Business Roundtable. (2025). Business Roundtable Launches New Resource to Strengthen Employer-Educator Partnerships and Fill In-Demand Jobs. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/eSejsf8X
[3] Business Roundtable. (2025). Happening now: The Business Roundtable CEO Workforce Forum: Investing in U.S. Workers. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/e6hefGST
[4] Business Roundtable. (2025). Carrier Global Corporation Partners with Arbor Day Foundation to Plant 5 Million Trees by 2030. Retrieved from https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2928780/carrier-commits-to-planting-5-million-trees-with-the-arbor-day-foundation-by-2030-carr-stock-news
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