The U.S. is facing a massive shortage of skilled tradespeople, and giants like Walmart are stepping up to fill the gap. With conveyor belts humming, fridges staying frosty, and parking lots drain-free, the nation's biggest retailer revamped its training program last year. The goal? Pump out maintenance technicians who handle everything from equipment repairs to electrical work at stores and distribution centers—jobs that are tough to fill as the labor pool shrinks.
From Tape Operator to $43/Hour Fixer: Real Career Wins
Take Liz Cardenas, 24, who joined Walmart in May 2023 as an automation equipment operator in Lancaster, Texas. Her job? Ensuring boxes taped right and stayed upright on conveyor belts. Fast-forward to today: She's fixing those same belts and more, nearly doubling her pay to $43.50 an hour.
Cardenas is eyeing even more training for bigger paychecks and responsibility. "I moved out of my parents' house, got my own apartment and car, and boosted my 401(k)," she shared. Stories like hers show how internal upskilling can deliver financial freedom—especially for young workers navigating tight job markets.
What's Driving the Shortage? Retirements, Immigration Shifts, and More
A wave of retirements, plus a pandemic-slowed immigration drop now accelerating under President Trump's deportations, is hitting employers hard. But skilled trades feel it worst. McKinsey predicts a wild imbalance: 20 job openings for every net new worker in roles like maintenance techs, welders, and carpenters from 2022-2032.
That churn could cost businesses over $5.3 billion yearly in hiring and training alone. Add in layoffs from tariffs, shifting spending, and AI investments, and companies are scrambling. University of Arkansas economist Mervin Jebaraj warns training helps on the margins but won't erase the gap: "We don’t have enough people."
Big Business Fights Back: Training Pipelines and Awareness Campaigns
Walmart's tuition-free program, launched in spring 2024 in Dallas-Fort Worth and now in Vincennes, Indiana, and Jacksonville, Florida, blends hands-on and classroom training in HVAC, electrical, and maintenance. By mid-November, nearly 400 associates graduated—100% from the pilot landed tech roles averaging $32/hour. Walmart aims for 4,000 by 2030.
CEO Doug McMillon blames part of the issue on "lack of awareness." "Most Americans don’t know what a tech does or that we can train them for great jobs," he told AP. R.J. Zanes, Walmart's VP of facility services, stresses the stakes: A fridge breakdown can torch $300K-$400K in product, especially during holidays. "We need skills for preventative fixes and quick recoveries."
Others are joining in. Business Roundtable's June initiative, co-led by Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison, targets schools to spotlight trades. "Tech can't replace plumbers or electricians," Ellison said. Lowe's offers 90-day online training for carpentry and maintenance, plus $43 million in grants to tech colleges and nonprofits since 2023.
Why This Matters for Your Career (Especially Gen Z)
These programs signal booming opportunities in trades—high pay, stability, and quick entry via company training. No four-year degree needed, just willingness to learn. As AI reshapes white-collar jobs, hands-on roles like these offer recession-proof paths.