On June 8, 2026, Meta announced the launch of America’s Workforce Academy (AWA), an innovative workforce development program that provides paid training in the skilled trades, an industry-recognized credential in just five weeks, and a pathway to employment helping build the AI infrastructure America needs.
Meta is partnering with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national trade association, and CBRE, a global leader in commercial real estate services, to launch the program.
The 2026 pilot program will be offered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Houston, Texas; however, applications are open to individuals from all 50 states.
The program is completely free for participants. Meta will cover tuition, travel expenses, lodging, and provide a daily stipend during training. Upon graduation, participants will earn a verified, industry-recognized credential in high-demand fields such as electrical work, mechanical systems, and plumbing. Graduates will also have a job opportunity waiting with a Meta partner at one of its project sites.
For additional information about America’s Workforce Academy, please see the articles and videos below, courtesy of Meta.
June 8, 2026 – Today, Meta is launching America’s Workforce Academy (AWA) – a nationwide, fast-track to a long-term career in a skilled trade, powered by an initial $115 million first year investment. It’s the largest private-sector commitment to the skilled trades with a job guarantee in American history. You can read more about AWA in Meta’s Newsroom Post and a Wall Street Journal op-ed co-authored by Dina Powell McCormick and Mike Rowe.
The American AI buildout represents one of the most significant economic opportunities for workers in a generation. The demand for skilled tradespeople – electricians, plumbers, fiber technicians – is outpacing the workforce pipeline. AWA addresses this gap head-on.
We are excited to launch in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas as our 2026 pilot locations, but the program is open to applicants in all 50 states. The program is completely free to participants – Meta covers all travel and provides a daily stipend. Every graduate will leave with a verified, industry-standard credential in high-demand fields such as electrical work, mechanical systems, and plumbing – and a job waiting for them with a Meta partner at one of our sites.
AWA builds upon the huge demand we saw for Meta’s first major initiative of this kind, Level-Up, Meta’s fiber installation training program. When we launched Level-Up in April, we received 35,000 applications for 1,000 spots in just the first week. The demand is what motivated us to scale, and we’re just getting started.
Meta can’t solve this alone. We’re calling on our industry peers to join us in training the workers who were build America’s future. The demand for skilled trades will only grow as AI infrastructure, energy, and construction expand over the coming decades.