Overview

• Ford CEO Jim Farley convened a Detroit summit of business leaders to spotlight a shortage of skilled trades that he says threatens factory and data‑center projects.
• Farley estimates the U.S. is short about 600,000 manufacturing workers and 500,000 construction workers, with roughly 400,000 automotive technicians needed over the next three years.
• Industry data show hiring strain and surging demand, with Uptime and Deloitte surveys citing staffing gaps as core challenges and McKinsey projecting $6.7 trillion in global data‑center capex through 2030, including about $300 billion by hyperscalers in 2025.
• He called for more apprenticeships, greater vocational funding, faster permitting, and regulatory reform, saying momentum exists locally but he has not seen a sufficient national shift yet.
• Farley said AI‑powered augmented reality is already a “game changer” for complex vehicle repairs, while urging tech firms to build tools for the trades as the U.S. needs over 100,000 new technicians a year, according to TechForce.