Building Trades, Microsoft Expand Partnership on AI Training for Construction Skilled Trades
Date Posted: April 28, 2026
Posted In: Ideas, Workforce,
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Microsoft have announced an expanded partnership to support workforce development and equip skilled trades professionals with AI literacy and credentials aligned with an evolving construction landscape.
Building on earlier efforts that trained 1,500 instructors, the initiative introduces no-cost AI courses and industry-recognized credentials for craft professionals across North America. Training will be delivered through union apprenticeship systems and Microsoft’s LinkedIn Learning platform.
The partnership integrates AI education into NABTU’s Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) model, with curriculum co-developed by instructors and tailored to jobsite applications, safety, and productivity.
The collaboration also includes TradesFutures, a nonprofit operating in 34 states that connects participants to union apprenticeship pathways through its Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) program.
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said the effort is intended to ensure that workers building AI-related infrastructure “share in its opportunity,” while NABTU President Sean McGarvey emphasized training’s role in keeping the trades at the forefront of innovation.
The expanded partnership aligns with Microsoft’s Community-First AI Infrastructure commitments and reflects a broader focus on linking infrastructure investment with workforce development across the skilled trades.
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