Meta and NABTU partner to boost skilled trades in AI development
Meta and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have unveiled a new partnership aimed at supporting skilled trades workers nationwide. The collaboration intends to enhance investments and expand their joint efforts over time.
Sean McGarvey, President of NABTU, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “NABTU is proud to partner with Meta. The Future Is For Everyone Fund is exactly the kind of investment communities across America need and will value.” He continued, “We look forward to working together to ensure the future of America is built by the men and women of America—all that’s needed is the workforce planning, industry partnerships, and sustained investment required to connect people with the jobs and family-sustaining careers.”
Dina Powell McCormick, President and Vice Chairman of Meta, also shared her thoughts on the partnership, stating, “We are so proud to work with NABTU on this partnership.” She added, “I have had the privilege of working with President McGarvey since I took on this new role, and we are excited to work together on skilled trades. This is an important moment, and these men and women of the skilled trades are building the American infrastructure needed to ensure America’s values lead the AI race globally.”
The collaboration comes at a time when the demand for highly skilled tradespeople is growing due to the country’s expanding AI infrastructure. Workers involved in building this infrastructure are crucial to the AI economy, and both Meta and NABTU are dedicated to providing these workers with access to the necessary training, credentials, and full-time employment opportunities.
This partnership builds upon Meta’s recently launched Future Is For Everyone Fund, which aims to invest directly in community resources including teachers, first responders, and energy and water infrastructure. The joint initiative with NABTU underscores a long-term commitment to ensuring workers and communities benefit from America’s AI infrastructure development. America’s Workforce Academy will collaborate with NABTU’s respected apprenticeship programs to create robust career pathways in the skilled trades for participants.
About NABTU
North America’s Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 national and international unions within the building and construction industry. It represents over 3.2 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Annually, the unions and their contractor partners invest more than $3 billion in private funds to maintain over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities across North America. NABTU is committed to fostering economic security and job opportunities for construction workers by upholding wage and benefit standards, encouraging responsible private investment, and creating more career pathways to the middle class for women, communities of color, Indigenous people, veterans, and those involved in the justice system. For further information, visit nabtu.org.
