Key Facts: Path to Pro
- The Challenge: Over 4.1 million skilled trades jobs are expected to open over the next decade, but only 6% of young people currently express interest in these careers.
- The Goal: The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation aim to deliver 15 million introductions to high-demand construction careers 2032.
- The Solution: The Home Depot launched Path to Pro Skills Explorers, a free learning curriculum that combines interactive online modules with hands-on activities and projects to introduce students ages 11-17 to the skilled trades.
- The Audience: The turn-key curriculum is designed for educators, school counselors, parents, and youth organizations.
Though 4.1 million skilled trades jobs are expected to open over the next decade, currently only 6% of young people express interest in pursuing these careers. To address this gap before students enter the job market, The Home Depot is expanding its workforce development strategy with the launch of Path to Pro Skills Explorers. Designed for youth ages 11 to 17, this free, hands-on and online educational curriculum introduces middle and high school students to high-demand, high-earning careers in the trades.
It’s all part of a new commitment by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to provide 15 million introductions to the skilled construction trades by 2032 and expand their support for students.
Building Skills for the Next Generation
Developed in partnership with Scouting America and piloted with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Skills Explorers provides turn-key resources that introduce youth to foundational trades skills such as woodworking, plumbing, electrical work, and construction safety through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
Designed for flexibility, Skills Explorers can be used wherever youth learn and grow, including classrooms, after-school programs, community organizations, and at home. The program includes:
- Ready-to-use lesson plans and facilitator guides
- Hands-on projects that build practical skills and confidence
- Career exploration activities that connect learning to the skilled trades
- Modular content that can be adapted to a variety of learning environments
Expanding Community Support
To support these efforts to introduce more youth to the trades, The Home Depot Foundation is awarding more than $13 million in grants as part of its Path to Pro initiative. This includes an incremental investment expanding work with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and a new partnership with Scouting America, enabling them to integrate construction skilled trades curricula into their programming. Education Grants will also be available for youth organizations nationwide.
Additional grants will continue support of hands-on training, certification, scholarships, and entrepreneurship programs through leading workforce and education nonprofits, including Home Builders Institute (HBI), 100 Black Men of America, Construction Ready, the Folds of Honor Foundation and Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.
Team Depot, the company’s associate volunteer force, will also begin engaging local nonprofits across the U.S. in hands-on youth activities, creating opportunities for more than 470,000 associates to share their skills and passion for building with the next generation.
Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
The addition of Skills Explorers marks the newest chapter in a long-standing commitment by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to solve the nation’s skilled labor gap. To date, Path to Pro has graduated more than 200,000 individuals from the Skills Program, and the Foundation has certified 70,000 and introduced over 700,000 people to trade careers.
"For nearly a decade, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation have provided free training to separating military, youth, career changers and other communities interested in pursuing a career in the trades," said Michael Rowe, Executive Vice President – Pro, The Home Depot. "However, with a lack of youth interested in these careers, we’re expanding our programs to introduce more people to the trades, because closing the skilled labor gap starts long before someone applies for a job. We have to start by helping young people see what's possible."
Teachers, parents, and youth leaders can download the free Skills Explorers curriculum and explore training resources by visiting https://www.pathtopro.com/skills-explorers/.
