Tractor Supply Extends Support of the Trades

For the third consecutive year, Tractor Supply is offering an exclusive assortment of apparel in an effort to boost its Support the Trades effort.

Teaming with Carhartt, the collection includes short- and long-sleeved shirts in a variety of colors, three different ball caps and two knit hats. For every item sold, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to SkillsUSA, a nonprofit that serves middle school, high school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. These include welders and machinists, plumbers, landscape architects and more. 

Tractor Supply Company, the Tractor Supply Company Foundation and Carhartt each committed a $50,000 donation for a total of $150,000.

“Many of our Team Members and customers either work in the skilled trades or have deep connections to them,” said Jamie Martin, vice president, divisional merchandise manager at Tractor Supply. “Support the Trades provides financial assistance to help young people pursue these in-demand but often overlooked opportunities.”

According to a forecasting model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors, this year alone, the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring to meet the demand for labor. With only a small portion of those who do join the construction industry entering the skilled trades, the number of skilled workers is growing at a slower pace than that of construction laborers, and in some cases, declining. Nearly one in four construction workers is nearing retirement age, making the skills shortage especially concerning.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on the importance of skilled trades and the need to close the skills gap, thanks to initiatives like “Support the Trades.” In response, enrollment in construction trade programs grew 19.3% from 2021 to 2022, and mechanic and repair trade programs saw an enrollment increase of 11.5%. SkillsUSA’s fiscal year 2023 membership levels are projected to be the highest in the organization’s history.