Carhartt, a workwear maker founded 137 years ago, faces challenges as blue-collar jobs decline. CEO Linda Hubbard emphasizes the undervalued skilled trades and the difficulty in accessing them in the US.

Hubbard partners with Ford to address the issue, announcing a strategic partnership that includes a Carhartt-themed Ford truck, apparel supporting skilled trades, and workforce development.

The essential economy, as defined by Ford CEO Jim Farley, includes industries like construction, utilities, and transportation, accounting for $12 trillion of GDP, 95 million jobs, and 3 million businesses.

Labor shortages persist in critical industries, with Gen Z finding manual labor too demanding. A survey by PRT Staffing reports 17.4% of manufacturing companies facing worker shortages, with a projected need to fill 3.8 million manufacturing jobs over the next decade.

Ford invests over $5 million in workforce development, focusing on hands-on learning for K-12 students in Michigan and Tennessee. The company also partners with SkillsUSA to expand advanced manufacturing and automotive programs for high school students.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Jobs in skilled trades are too ‘difficult to access’: Carhartt CEO