BlackRock has announced $100 million in support for a Future Builders Initiative to train 50,000 skilled trades workers over a five-year period to better meet the demands of U.S. infrastructure projects. The project, which is funded by The BlackRock Foundation, aligns with industry trends as it seeks to tackle the skilled labour gap in critical skilled trades like electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and HVAC technicians by providing access to training, licensure support, and financial education to strengthen the sector long-term.
“As the U.S. faces historic infrastructure demands, capital alone is not enough—people are central to building our nation’s future,” said Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock.
Timely, as well, as The Future Builders program is expected to play a key role in meeting the nation’s $10 trillion infrastructure investment needs by 2033.
In a statement, the company said, “Over the next decade, employment in U.S. infrastructure–related skilled trades is projected to grow by more than five percent—outpacing the national average of three percent—representing hundreds of thousands of net new jobs. Matching the pace of demand for these skilled workers is essential to enabling the next phase of economic growth.”
These positions should be appealing, too. According to Michael Guckes, chief economist for ConstructConnect, construction wages have continued to rise, with average hourly pay reaching $40.55 in January 2026, which is representative of a 3.8 percent increase over the previous year. Weekly hours are also up, pushing average weekly earnings up by approximately 25 percent versus the average private nonfarm worker.
The initiative will work collaboratively with governments, labour organizations, and non-profit organizations to better scale effective training programs to ramp up output to better meet the rising demand for these positions. The initiative builds on BlackRock’s broader philanthropic efforts, which have included $354 million in grants since 2020, supporting over 250,000 individuals through education and workforce training programs.
