Home Depot Launched New Youth Trade Program
The retailer introduced a curriculum designed to interest students ages 11 to 17 in careers like plumbing and carpentry.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Jobs — General
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The Home Depot and its foundation have launched the Skills Explorers curriculum to engage youth in skilled trades. The program, developed with Scouting America, provides hands-on training to students aged 11 to 17.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to close the growing skilled trades gap in the United States by countering common misconceptions about the industry. The program seeks to increase the low percentage of young adults currently pursuing careers in the field.
Only 6% of young adults currently show interest in pursuing a skilled trade career. The company has set a goal to introduce 15 million people to the trades by 2032 to address the current shortage.
The players
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is a major home improvement retailer that operates stores across North America.
The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the retailer that focuses on housing and skilled trade initiatives.
Scouting America
Scouting America is a prominent youth organization that provides educational programs centered on character development and life skills.
The details
The curriculum offers instruction in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work to schools, clubs, and homeschool groups. This national effort provides hands-on activities meant to familiarize students with the practical demands and benefits of professional trade work.
Timeline
The target to introduce 15 million people to skilled trades is set for 2032.
Market Landscape
This program positions the retailer as a primary stakeholder in the national skilled trades worker shortage by shaping future talent pipelines. It shifts the industry focus toward early-stage vocational education to combat structural labor deficits.
Parents and local education leaders can access this curriculum to incorporate practical, hands-on learning into their existing youth programs. This availability allows households and schools to provide students with early exposure to potentially high-earning vocational career paths.
The takeaway
Addressing the skilled trades gap requires a sustained commitment to changing youth perceptions long before they graduate high school. Educators and parents can use these resources to introduce children to stable, high-demand career paths that often bypass traditional college debt.
Further reading
For more on the national labor market and vocational trends, visit the United States section.
More information
Access the Skills Explorers program curriculum information to view detailed lesson plans and implementation resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KUTV.
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