Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Initiative
Empowering the Current and Next Generation of Skilled Workers
In celebration of our centennial in April 2025, Caterpillar made a bold pledge of $100 million over the next five years to help equip the workforce of the future with the skills needed, leveraging technology to meet global market demands as the world undergoes a rapid digital transformation. The pledge, known as the Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Initiative, is the first of its kind for our company and reflects our dedication to people and strengthening communities.
The Situation
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a profound transformation as new technologies are reshaping existing roles and creating new jobs — and the stakes are high.
In the United States, the Manufacturing Institute estimates that more than 2 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030, resulting in a potential economic loss of $1 trillion alone that year. Globally, the emerging manufacturing skills gap is expected to cost over $8.5 trillion a year by 2030. This talent crisis threatens economic growth and opportunity worldwide and must be addressed with urgency.
Yet structural barriers to high-quality, affordable training persist. Training and education programs frequently lag employer needs, leaving graduates underprepared for the real-world demands of modern manufacturing. Financing models to support training, reskilling, apprenticeships, and workforce development remain fragmented, underutilized, or inaccessible, especially in underserved communities. Even when “best practice” models emerge, they often spread slowly, leaving many students and workers without the preparation the industry needs.
The Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Initiative is our response to these challenges, ensuring humans and technology rise together.
Our Solution
We believe this challenge can’t be solved alone. That’s why Caterpillar is engaging with leading academic institutions, technical colleges, chambers of commerce, and economic and workforce development boards, to strengthen what already exists, establish forward-looking solutions and build on what Caterpillar has already achieved in preparing the workforce of the future.
The Caterpillar Building the Future Workforce Initiative is anchored in four pillars:
Industry
Linkages
Strengthening collaboration between training institutions and employers so workers receive accessible, affordable and relevant training that leads to career advancement.
Perception
Shift
Implement outreach and engagement programs to strengthen understanding of modern manufacturing among students, parents and educators.
Innovative Training & Financing
Scaling flexible training and financing models so workers can access cutting-edge, community-tailored programs.
Discovery & Learning
Share successful innovation models and best practices to benefit the wider industry, beyond Caterpillar.
Our Pledge in Action
October 2025
January 2026
October 2025
Caterpillar announced that Indiana would be the first state to receive funding from its pledge, committing up to $5 million to train and upskill workers across the state. With its strong manufacturing base and critical role in Caterpillar’s U.S. operations, Indiana is an ideal place to pilot and scale new workforce models, from innovative training programs to strengthen collaboration between employers and training institutions.
Learn MoreJanuary 2026
At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2026, Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed unveiled a $25 million, five-year innovation challenge to identify, test and scale solutions that will upskill the manufacturing workforce through adaptive, human-centered, tech-forward innovations. Launching in spring 2026, this challenge will help ensure that as technology advances, human potential rises alongside it.
Learn More