One of the first things on President Donald Trump's to-do list after returning to the White House was to bring back manufacturing to the United States. American companies outsourcing manufacturing overseas, burdensome regulations, and most recently, the rise of China's manufacturing base have put the idea of "Made in the USA" in a precarious position. But an even more pressing problem is the number of Americans working in the skilled trades. How do we make becoming a skilled tradesman an attractive career opportunity? One of the largest U.S. corporations is offering to help.
This is what nobody's talking about!
— MattD (@mattdykema) December 11, 2025
The “skilled machinist shortage” is actually a collapse in the pipeline.
There aren’t fewer machinists by accident. The system that used to train them (apprenticeships, vocational schools, older mentors) is nearly gone.
Shops depend on… pic.twitter.com/oHgUwOa4jf
Shops depend on tribal knowledge held by a handful of aging legends. When those folks retire, entire processes disappear.
General Motors (GM) has seen this disturbing trend coming. Over the last five years, they have invested over $242 million in their skilled trades apprenticeship programs. The programs are designed with future skilled trade professionals in mind. Michael Trevorrow is GM's senior vice president of global manufacturing. He described the programs as a mix of classroom instruction and thousands of hours of hands-on experience at a GM facility.
READ MORE: Mike Rowe Has a Warning: Young Men Are Dropping Out of the Workforce
The programs are not for those who aren't serious about entering a skilled trade career. Apprentices are required to attend up to 672 hours of classroom-based related technical instruction, and around 7,920 hours of on-the-job training working under an experienced skilled tradesperson. The apprenticeships focus on several areas, including diemakers, electricians, experimental assembler inspector, experimental laboratory paint technician, millwright, metal model maker, wood model maker, pattern maker, pipe fitter, toolmaker, and machine repairer. At the end of their training, they receive a journeyman card, which qualifies them to work in their skilled trade field without direct supervision. Currently, GM is graduating 600 apprentices a year from the programs. Apprentices are also paid during their training.
A study published in September, done by Georgetown University, paints a grim picture of American skilled trades jobs. About 18.4 million experienced workers with a post-secondary education will retire between 2024 and 2032. But only 13.8 young people with equivalent educational qualifications will enter the job market.
GM's apprenticeship program is looking to bring in many different candidates, from adults looking for a career change to veterans transitioning from military to civilian life, but there is a big focus on attracting young people to the skilled trades. GenZers are taking a second look at trade schools and apprenticeships. In 2024, enrollment in those alternatives to a four-year college rose 11 percent. There was a 17 percent rise in job applications among 18-24 year-olds for construction and skilled trade jobs.
MAKE AMERICA SKILLED AGAIN! ⬇️
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) August 11, 2025
On average, recent graduates of Registered Apprenticeships make roughly $11,000 MORE than recent college graduates🔥 pic.twitter.com/dzd3X1OkNu
GM is also taking student groups through GM plants so they can get first-hand knowledge of what goes on there. The tour is designed to teach them about quality, standardized work, and problem-solving. But GM has not forgotten about its current employees. Its "Technical Learning University" is training employees on new technology as well. Trevorrow said of training employees for the future of manufacturing:
As technology improves, we try to upscale everybody to that new technology so that we can take advantage of it and use it to build more quality in our vehicles, do it more efficiently, which ends up good for the customer.
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However, it's a no-brainer why skilled trade jobs are getting the attention of GenZers. The average cost of a four-year college degree is $38,270 per year. Do the math, and that comes out to well over $100,000. Training for a skilled trade career can be completed in a year at a fraction of the cost and often includes job placement. GenZers also cite job security and good work-life balance with predictable job hours. It gets better for those interested in skilled trade careers. In April, President Trump signed an executive order overhauling workforce development programs, including apprenticeships. Beginning in July 2026, those enrolled in short-term programs will be able to apply for a Workforce Pell Grant to pay for those programs.
It's a big investment for GM, but one that will go a long way in the future to making manufacturing in America great again.
Trump signed a new Executive Order to overhaul federal workforce training to prepare Americans for trade jobs. The US government funnels $700 billion per year to American universities, but most students exit the education system without a job prospect. https://t.co/CTz2dYCPJN pic.twitter.com/tqor8NqmU2
— Armstrong Economics (@StrongEconomics) May 2, 2025
President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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