Trump Signs Order to Boost Job Training for Skilled Trades

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to improve job training for skilled trades. This initiative is part of his broader strategy to revive U.S. manufacturing, which includes implementing tariffs on imports.

The Labor, Education, and Commerce departments will focus on job needs in emerging industries, particularly those influenced by artificial intelligence. The aim is to support over 1 million apprenticeships each year, according to a summary provided by the White House.

Trump, who took office in January, previously caused market fluctuations with a series of tariffs on imports. Some of these tariffs are currently paused while negotiations continue with U.S. trading partners. The president views these levies as a way to counteract a long decline in U.S. factory jobs, which many economic advisors attribute to companies relocating manufacturing overseas.

The decline in high-paying job opportunities for Americans without college degrees has raised concerns among Trump’s advisors, who have noted that tariffs could encourage consumers to buy more American-made goods. However, a significant barrier to a manufacturing revival is the shortage of skilled workers. The U.S. has been training fewer factory workers for decades, and factors such as retirements and stricter immigration policies are contributing to a diminished labor pool available to manufacturers.

The new executive order seeks to shift government support from predominantly favoring professional jobs, which require college degrees, to backing skilled trades. This includes professions such as electricians, machinists, and nursing assistants, addressing the urgent need for skilled workers in the labor market.