America's Workforce Academy: Meta launches trades training program

Meta is investing $115 million in a roughly five-week initiative called "America's Workforce Academy" to fast-track careers in the skilled trades as it builds data centers for its AI ambitions. The free program will support participants while they learn and guarantees a job for all graduates, and it will initially launch in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas this year.

No prior experience is required; Meta says every graduate will leave with a verified, industry-standard credential in fields such as electrical work, mechanical systems, and plumbing. The announcement follows a four-week training effort for fiber technicians called Level-Up, which drew 35,000 applications in its first seven days.

The company framed the effort as a response to growing demand for people who build and operate the physical infrastructure behind AI. "Despite all the rhetoric about automation, AI still depends on a massive human workforce," said Chris Kaufman.

United States, Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, Texas

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