Caterpillar pledge to help equip tomorrow’s innovators

14 April, 2025

As part of their centennial celebrations, Caterpillar have pledged US$100 million over the next five years to help equip the workforce of the future with the skills needed

Company celebrates first 100 years with US$100 million commitment to future workforce

CATERPILLAR have today announced an investment to support a key source of their success and longevity for the next 100 years – their people. As part of the company’s centennial celebrations, the company has pledged US$100 million over the next five years to help equip the workforce of the future with the skills needed, leveraging technology to meet global market demands as the world undergoes a rapid digital transformation.

‘We are excited to celebrate Caterpillar’s centennial with this investment that will empower the workforce of tomorrow,’ said Caterpillar chairman and chief executive officer Jim Umpleby. ‘This pledge reinforces our commitment to building a world where technology and human creativity can work hand in hand to create a more resilient workforce. Together, by empowering individuals with the skills and resources they need to thrive, we can make that world our reality.’

According to ‘The Future of Jobs Report 2025’, in the next five years, the skillsets needed for success in the global labour market are expected to evolve drastically. This transformation will result in the creation of 170 million new jobs. These technology-driven skills can include those for artificial intelligence (AI), automation, data analytics, digital twins, Internet of Things (IoT), machine language, augmented reality, computer-aid design and modelling, and robotics maintenance, alongside soft skills.

‘As an industry leader, Caterpillar understand the urgency of preparing the next generation with the capabilities required for the jobs of tomorrow,’ said Jaime Mineart, chief technology officer at Caterpillar, and pledge executive sponsor. ‘This pledge, our first of its kind, reflects our dedication to collaborating with our global stakeholders to devise the best training solutions.’

The pledge builds upon Caterpillar’s ongoing work to help close the growing skills gap in the manufacturing industry, including:

ThinkBIG, a two-year programme that pays students while they train to become technicians
The company’s STEM outreach programmes that expose K-12 (elementary and secondary) students to different careers in manufacturing.
Caterpillar’s Global Dealer Technician Challenge – an initiative showcasing how skilled technicians are part of a high-tech, high-impact, high-demand career. The competition was designed to raise awareness of the opportunities in the technician career field.

Caterpillar’s Global Dealer Technician Challenge was designed to raise awareness of the opportunities in the technician career field

Throughout 2025, Caterpillar say they will be engaging in bringing key actors together on forward-looking solutions and building on what they have already achieved in preparing the workforce of the future.

This year, the company is reflecting on its rich past and promising future at local celebrations across the world as part of a centennial world tour. In addition to the US$100 million pledge, the Caterpillar Foundation, Caterpillar’s philanthropic organization, is making charitable donations to local non-profit organizations at each tour stop, building on the Foundation’s legacy of impact through community development and sustainability initiatives.

‘Whether it is Caterpillar investing in the future of work, or Caterpillar employees volunteering, the company’s culture has always been about supporting communities where its employees live and work,’ said Asha Varghese, head of corporate social responsibility at Caterpillar. ‘This ongoing commitment to serving communities helps create an environment in which everyone can thrive.’