General Motors is making a major investment in America’s labor base, committing more than $242 million over the past five years to expand its skilled trades apprenticeship program aimed at training the next generation of manufacturing and technical workers. The effort directly addresses the growing shortage of skilled labor in the U.S. economy by blending classroom learning with extensive hands-on experience.
GM’s apprenticeship initiative trains about 600 new apprentices annually, giving participants up to 672 hours of related technical instruction in the classroom and roughly 7,920 hours of on-the-job training under experienced journeypersons at GM facilities. The program covers a wide range of trades, including electricians, millwrights, pipefitters, toolmakers, metal model makers, and more, leading to a journeyperson credential upon completion.
Michael Trevorrow, GM’s senior vice president of global manufacturing, noted that the company’s skilled trades program was crucial to his own career progression — from apprentice to a top manufacturing executive — and serves as a model for developing talent from within. Participants not only learn valuable technical skills but are also paid during training, making the path into skilled trades a viable alternative to traditional four-year college routes.
The program also prioritizes inclusion for veterans, who may be able to accelerate through training based on prior experience, expanding opportunities for those transitioning from military service into the civilian workforce.
GM’s initiative comes at a critical moment as the U.S. faces a wave of retirements among experienced workers and a persistent gap between available jobs and qualified workers. Industry data suggest millions of positions in manufacturing and technical fields could go unfilled in the coming years without a stronger pipeline of skilled labor.
Beyond direct training, GM engages its communities by introducing younger students — from kindergarten through high school — to modern manufacturing careers and demonstrating the value of technical proficiency. The company also invests in upskilling its current workforce through internal training programs like its Technical Learning University, which serves thousands of employees annually.
This private sector investment in workforce development aligns with broader efforts to revitalize American manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers for critical industries. Strengthening the domestic skilled labor base supports economic growth and national competitiveness in technology, infrastructure, and defense sectors.
