PHILADELPHIA, PA — Saint-Gobain North America has launched Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities, a workforce development initiative aimed at introducing high school students to careers in manufacturing. The program is designed to address the industry’s growing labor shortage while fostering local talent through education and hands-on experience.
Partnering with high schools across the U.S. and Canada, Saint-Gobain will provide classroom instruction focused on real-world manufacturing applications and organize visits to its nearby facilities. The goal is to help students understand the scope and value of manufacturing careers and encourage them to explore pathways into the field.
The launch comes amid significant workforce challenges for the sector. A recent Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study projects that more than 3.8 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the next decade, with roughly half potentially going unfilled if action is not taken.
“Our Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities program is a win-win for students, the manufacturing industry, and local economies,” said Mark Rayfield, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed. “In the manufacturing industry anyone can have a long and successful career, and by bringing manufacturing directly to high schools, we aim to show students the rewarding role they can play in building the future of the industry.”
The program was piloted earlier this year with Granville County Public Schools in North Carolina and Shakopee High School in Minnesota. Early results have been positive, with participating students reporting increased interest in manufacturing careers. Saint-Gobain plans to expand the program to at least ten additional sites during the 2025–2026 school year, with further growth expected in subsequent years.
Beyond workforce development, Saint-Gobain continues to engage in community initiatives through its Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities platform. In August, the company’s Norton Abrasives plant in Travelers Rest, South Carolina partnered with Good360 and the City of Travelers Rest to create “welcome home kits” for families impacted by Hurricane Helene. In the same month, CertainTeed Gypsum in Moundsville, West Virginia donated more than 27,000 square feet of wallboard to assist rebuilding efforts after flash flooding in Triadelphia.
With more than 160 locations across the U.S. and Canada, Saint-Gobain works with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Canada, Homes for Our Troops, and Rebuilding Together to expand access to affordable and specialized housing.
Current job openings and career information for all Saint-Gobain locations are available at saint-gobain-northamerica.com/careers.
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