BlackRock announced a $100 million philanthropic initiative aimed at expanding economic opportunity and strengthening the pipeline of skilled trades workers across the United States. The initiative, called Future Builders, will focus on connecting workers with training programs, supporting them through certification and licensure, and helping participants build long-term financial security.
The program comes as the United States faces rising demand for skilled labor tied to large-scale infrastructure investment. Projects related to energy systems, digital networks, and artificial intelligence infrastructure are expected to drive significant demand for electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and ironworkers in the coming years.
Through the Future Builders initiative, BlackRock plans to deploy $100 million in grant funding to nonprofit and workforce development partners across multiple states over the next five years. The effort aims to reach approximately 50,000 workers through training programs and career pathway support.
The initiative will support several stages of workforce development, including pre-apprenticeship access, training completion, and licensure. It will also integrate financial education and digital savings tools designed to help workers build financial stability from the beginning of their careers through retirement.
BlackRock said the program reflects a broader need to align workforce development with infrastructure investment. Employment in infrastructure-related skilled trades is projected to grow by more than 5% over the next decade, outpacing the national average job growth rate of about 3% and representing hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
The initiative builds on BlackRock’s broader philanthropic efforts focused on financial security. Since 2020, BlackRock’s philanthropic spending — including funding through The BlackRock Foundation — has totaled $354 million. The company said its grants have supported more than 250,000 people across the U.S., U.K., and European Union through education and workforce training initiatives.
The Future Builders initiative was highlighted at BlackRock’s U.S. Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., where policymakers, corporate executives, labor leaders, and infrastructure experts gathered to discuss ways to accelerate infrastructure development and workforce readiness across the country.
KEY QUOTES:
“Throughout our history, tradespeople have built our country. America needs an estimated $10 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2033 to modernize aging systems and build new energy, digital, and AI infrastructure. Capital alone is not enough – people are central to building our nation’s future. By bringing policymakers, corporate leaders and labor champions together, we’re helping ensure this growth delivers shared prosperity and greater economic mobility for more Americans.”
Larry Fink, Chairman And CEO Of BlackRock
“Building the infrastructure to secure America’s continued leadership in AI is creating thousands of high skilled trade jobs. We applaud BlackRock’s Future Builders initiative and their commitment to expand economic opportunity for more Americans. Google is proud to have pioneered an electrical worker training program that is creating high paying careers across America. Only through collective investment – each program building and expanding upon the other – can the public and private sectors ensure all Americans have an opportunity to benefit from AI’s upside.”
Ruth Porat, President And Chief Investment Officer Of Alphabet And Google
“BlackRock’s Future Builders initiative reflects a clear understanding that meeting America’s infrastructure demands requires both capital and people. This is at the heart of IBEW and NECA’s jointly administered apprenticeship program, which delivers rigorous, safety-driven, skills-based training that creates pathways into the middle class, strengthens workforce capacity to build and sustain the energy, digital, and AI infrastructure powering economic growth, and expands opportunity while supporting long-term financial security for working families.”
Kenneth Cooper, International President Of IBEW, And David Long, CEO Of NECA
