In addressing the shortage of skilled trades professionals, Ferguson is actively pursuing solutions and working with various community and business partners to address the growing crisis.

As part of its mission to champion the skilled trades, the company has signed a three-year $300,000 partnership with SkillsUSA, an organization comprised of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce through the development of personal, workplace and technical skills.

Ferguson’s support largely will focus on introducing the trades to students in middle school, sponsorship of the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, the WorldSkillsUSA team and furthering the organization’s core mission.

 “The dwindling pipeline of skilled trades professionals is having a profound effect on our workforce and our ability to help our customers build and maintain America’s infrastructure,” explained Kevin Murphy, Ferguson’s CEO. “We are working with many organizations like SkillsUSA to address the issue and will continue to find new ways to illustrate that the trades are a viable career option. Our goal is to align education with opportunity and provide pathways for aspiring apprentices to enter the workforce.”