Home Depot Wants To Introduce 15 Million Kids To The Skilled Trades By 2032

The Home Depot Foundation announced Path to Pro Skills Explorers last month, a free program that introduces kids ages 11 to 17 to woodworking, plumbing, electrical work and construction safety. The company set a goal of 15 million introductions to skilled trades careers by 2032, backed by $13 million in Home Depot Foundation grants.

The launch comes as more families weigh apprenticeships and career training programs against a four-year degree.

The curriculum was built with Scouting America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Teachers get free lesson plans and videos, parents get hands-on project instructions, and youth groups and homeschool families can use the modular activities through the Skills Explorers website.

Skills Explorers is an exposure program, not job training, so teens who pick a trade later will still need a certificate or apprenticeship, costs that 529 plans can now help cover.

Why It Matters

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.1 million skilled trades jobs will open over the next decade, yet only 6% of young people say they’re interested in those careers, according to Home Depot’s announcement. For families comparing paths after high school, the price of the program matters as much as the paycheck, which is what our college ROI calculator measures.

Starting at age 11 gives students years to test their interest before committing money to a program. “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,” Michael Rowe, Home Depot’s executive vice president of Pro, said in the company’s release.

Employers have been moving the same direction, with skills carrying more weight in hiring than diplomas for a growing number of roles.

The Details

Here’s who this is for:

• Ages: 11 to 17, covering middle and high school
• Cost: Free for schools, families and youth organizations
• Trades covered: Woodworking, plumbing, electrical work and construction safety
• Partners: Scouting America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Home Builders Institute, 100 Black Men of America and others
• Track record: Path to Pro, launched in 2018, has introduced more than 700,000 people to trade careers, graduated over 200,000 from its skills program and produced 70,000 certifications

How This Connects

Federal policy is shifting toward job training too. Workforce Pell Grants for short-term programs launched in July 2026, and low-earning degree programs will soon lose access to federal student loans.

College Board data still shows a bachelor’s degree pays off for most graduates, so the trades work best as one option families evaluate alongside college.

What’s Next

Watch for adoption numbers from schools and youth groups, and whether Home Depot reports progress toward the 15 million mark. Families with teens closer to graduation can compare student loans for trade school and other ways to pay for training now.

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