Synchrony Launches Free Skilled-Trades Degree Pathway for Employees

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New program enables eligible employees to earn associate degrees in HVAC, electrical, welding and more with tuition covered by the company Women in the Trades Forum convenes industry leaders to strengthen the pipeline for tech‑enabled trade careers WEST CHESTER, Ohio, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At Synchrony's Women in the Trades forum, hosted with leading nonprofit partners, company leaders unveiled a new program enabling all U.S. employees, after three months of service, to earn a debt-free associate degree through community and technical college programs in high-demand fields like HVAC, electrical, plumbing and welding, building skills that support critical roles in data center operations and advanced mechanics.  Demand for these roles is accelerating, with nearly 500,000 skilled trade jobs unfilled today in the U.S., and by 2030, another 2.1 million more positions could go unfilled. As smart systems, connected equipment and AI tools become standard, technicians are combining hands-on expertise with digital fluency, opening new opportunities in modern skilled trades. "Skilled trades power our homes, businesses and local economies and provide an essential service to people and families, yet the talent gap is growing," said Kelli Nesseth, Senior Vice President and GM at Synchrony. "This program gives our people a debt-free associate degree pathway, building in-demand skills for the future across the industries we serve and opening doors, even to business ownership." Held at Synchrony's Cincinnati-West Chester office, the Women in the Trades forum convened dozens of women leaders to share best practices in board-level training, mentorship and leadership, and to accelerate the next wave of skilled trade talent. Behind the statistics are real families and neighborhoods. When technicians are scarce, urgent home repairs can take longer and cost more, delaying work that keeps homes safe and livable and putting basic fixes further out of reach for those who need them most. Filling these vital roles strengthens local economies and supports Synchrony's Home partners, especially the small and medium-sized businesses hit hardest by the skills shortage, by reducing backlogs, responding faster and growing local talent pipelines with job-ready credentials aligned to employer needs. "Synchrony's new tuition program and scholarship su...

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