Ford is so desperate for mechanics it's giving some of them free tools and Carhartt gear

"America is running low on mechanics, electricians, and plumbers. Ford thinks it can help solve the problem by getting younger workers under the hood of its new pickup trucks, enticing them with free Carhartt gear and tools. The automaker and 137-year-old workwear brand told Business Insider they're launching a multi-year partnership to address what both call a looming workforce crisis. The partnership aims to train thousands of blue collar workers, a bet that the two Detroit-based brands can reinvigorate America's manual labor pipeline."

"The partnership includes three main components: opening a ToolBank USA location in Detroit that will lend 25,000 tools annually to workers and volunteers, outfitting Ford's auto tech scholars with free Carhartt workwear, and launching a co-branded products for the public. Ford is also donating an F-150 to ToolBank to extend the program's mobile reach. The two companies declined to disclose the financial terms."

"'The problems with the essential economy are problems for all of us,' Farley said in September at Ford's inaugural workforce development summit, which convened industry leaders and policymakers to address the trades pipeline crisis. 'We stopped investing in the trades. If Henry Ford saw what has become of us, I think he'd be kind of mad.' In a phone interview with Business Insider, Mary Culler, the president of Ford Philanthropy, said part of Ford's mechanic pipeline issue is a perception problem."

America faces a shortage of mechanics, electricians, and plumbers. Ford and Carhartt launched a multi-year partnership to train thousands of blue-collar workers and strengthen the manual labor pipeline. The program will open a ToolBank USA location in Detroit to lend 25,000 tools annually, outfit Ford auto tech scholars with free Carhartt workwear, launch co-branded products, and include a donated F-150 to extend mobile reach; financial terms were not disclosed. Ford reports 5,000 open dealership technician positions, including six-figure jobs, and warns of a critical skilled-trades shortage within five to ten years. Ford Philanthropy identifies a perception problem contributing to the pipeline decline.

Read at Business Insider