The program, unveiled July 8 during Synchrony’s Women in the Trades forum in West Chester, Ohio, is open to U.S. employees after three months of service. It is offered through a partnership with Bright Horizons EdAssist and includes access to more than 20 technical colleges, community colleges and trade school programs.

The announcement comes as the construction industry continues to face demand for workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed construction job openings rose to 298,000 in May, up from 266,000 in April. The industry’s job openings rate increased to 3.5% from 3.1% during the same period.

Synchrony said the program is intended to help employees build skills for high-demand roles, including data center operations and advanced mechanics. The company said tuition coverage is available for up to $24,000 per year for degrees in high-demand fields, including education, health care and 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 general manager 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.”

“Synchrony’s new tuition program and scholarship support are the investments we need to help more people, including women, enter high-demand trade careers,” said Jane Sidebottom, president of Women in HVACR. “As the skills gap widens, building a job-ready pipeline is essential for the next generation of leaders and the customers and communities they’ll serve.”

The Synchrony Foundation has donated $150,000 to Women in HVACR for scholarships and nearly $1 million to skilled trade programs nationwide since 2021, according to the company.