Trump To Promote Job Training At White House Event

President Donald Trump is asking U.S. companies and trade associations to sign onto a pledge to give students and workers more job training and skills development opportunities in the face of impending automation.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is asking U.S. companies and trade associations to sign onto a pledge to give students and workers more job training and skills development opportunities in the face of impending automation.

Trump is signing an executive order Thursday to bolster vocational training, creating a national council for American workers and a workforce policy advisory board. The new push aims to increase the number of skilled workers in the U.S. workforce at a time when many companies are struggling to find qualified employees.

The White House said it expected the "Pledge to America's Workers" to lead to at least 500,000 new career opportunities for students and workers. Executives with IBM, FedEx and Lockheed Martin plan to attend the White House event with the president Thursday, along with students and workers.

Senior adviser Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, said the companies and trade groups will provide "concrete and substantial educational and re-skilling opportunities" for workers and students through the pledge.

Trump's Cabinet meeting Wednesday was focused on workforce development and included brief presentations from members of the president's team. Trump has hailed robust job growth since his 2016 election and emphasized the need for companies to help workers attain new job skills and provide apprenticeships for students.

More in Labor