Meta has announced a new partnership with North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) aimed at strengthening the skilled trades workforce as demand for labour surges with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across the United States.
The partnership will focus on creating more pathways into skilled trades careers, with both organisations committing to grow their investment and scale the initiative over time.
The collaboration builds on Meta’s Future Is For Everyone Fund, launched earlier this week to support communities through investments in teachers, first responders, and energy and water infrastructure. Under the new agreement, Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy will work alongside NABTU’s registered apprenticeship programmes to provide training, industry-recognised credentials and direct routes into full-time employment.
“The Future Is For Everyone Fund is exactly the kind of investment communities across America need and will value,” said Sean McGarvey, president of NABTU. “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.”
Meta President and Vice Chairman Dina Powell McCormick said the initiative recognises the critical role skilled trades workers will play in supporting the country’s AI ambitions.
“We are so proud to work with NABTU on this partnership,” Powell McCormick said. “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 announcement comes as technology companies accelerate investment in data centres and other AI infrastructure, driving unprecedented demand for electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, operating engineers and other skilled construction workers.
Meta and NABTU said they share a long-term commitment to ensuring workers and communities benefit directly from the AI infrastructure boom by expanding access to apprenticeship programmes, workforce training and sustainable careers in the construction industry.
NABTU is an alliance of 14 national and international building and construction unions representing more than 3.2 million skilled craft professionals across the United States and Canada. The organisation and its contractor partners invest more than $3 billion annually in over 1,900 apprenticeship and training facilities across North America.
