With more Gen Zers choosing careers in the trades over the traditional high school-to-college path, Home Depot is further amplifying its program to recruit and train skilled trade workers.
On Oct. 7, ServiceTitan, a software company for home and commercial contractors, announced its partnership with Home Depot on the Path to Pro program. The initiative gives ServiceTitan customers access to a strong pipeline of skilled tradespeople, while providing aspiring professionals with streamlined pathways into careers in HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and more.
Launched in 2021, The Path to Pro Skills Program is a free, on-demand training initiative from The Home Depot that helps
connect skilled tradespeople with hiring professionals in the construction and home improvement industries. Now, ServiceTitan has joined the effort to expand connections between jobseekers and employers through the Path to Pro Network.The program expansion comes as the skilled trades industry faces a severe labor shortage with more than 400,000 open construction jobs across the U.S.
“We know that there are more than 400,000 open construction jobs today, and counting,” Jenna Arca, Direc
tor of Workforce Development, The Home Depot, told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We aim to help build the next generation of trades professionals by providing them with the free resources and training they need to launch a successful career and connect them directly with hiring professionals through the Path to Pro Network.”Through Path to Pro, job seekers can connect with high-demand opportunities at some of the nation’s fastest-growing service companies. Contractors who register for Home Depot’s free Pro Xtra loyalty program will also gain access to a dedicated hiring network for skilled tradespeople.
The program provides free introductory training in the skilled trades, available in both English and Spanish, for anyone looking to start or advance their career. Participants gain access to on-demand courses that equip them with the foundational skills needed to land entry-level roles in fields such as electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, and painting.
The initiative allows contractors using ServiceTitan to access a variety of free resources and tools to help strengthen the skilled trades pipeline. These include the Path to Pro Resource Hub, which offers career guidance and information for those exploring trade careers; the Path to Pro Skills Program, featuring free on-demand training and educational content for trades and construction professionals; and the Path to Pro Network, a hiring platform that connects contractors with job seekers.
The program aligns with a growing trend among Gen Z, whose interest in skilled trades is rising amid economic pressures such as pricey college tuition, the fear of AI taking jobs, and the influence of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where young people share their pursuit of the trades. Many young people now view trade careers as a stable, debt-free route to financial success and fulfilling, hands-on work, and as an appealing alternative to traditional office jobs.
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