Watch: The Home Depot Offers Courses to Curb Construction Labor Shortage
The Home Depot is looking to end the labor shortage in the construction industry. The home improvement supply retailer is hosting 12-week apprenticeships to train people for various construction jobs. The Home Depot Foundation announced a $50 million investment in the program last month, planning to expand to military bases and schools.
Representatives from Home Depot believe a skills gap occurred when more and more schools stopped offering shop classes. Labor economist Peter Philips says the sector will need 600,000 new jobs to reach the levels sustained before the 2008 recession.