Skilled trades surge due to retirements, job openings, and income, with technical education becoming a smart choice amid AI, politics, and economic shifts.
The rise of skilled trades has led to a reevaluation of technical education, with many graduates earning high salaries and pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. The construction industry is short 400,000 jobs, with 40% of the workforce retiring within the next 5-7 years. Many tradespeople also start their own businesses, with 65% of contractors within SMACNA being family-owned by individuals who came through the trades.
The "Millionaire Next Door" principle highlights that many millionaires are not doctors, lawyers, or executives, but rather skilled tradespeople and small business owners who built wealth through steady work, financial discipline, and avoiding flashy lifestyles. AI's impact on learning has been significant, with almost 90% of college students using chatbots for homework. A Columbia computer science major openly used OpenAI for almost all assignments, arguing that many college assignments are "hackable by AI."
Class attendance and value have also changed, with a Harvard Crimson article by Sandhya Kumar discussing students skipping classes due to feeling they aren't learning anything new and can get what they need from class materials on their own. The White House under President Trump signed an executive order moving away from the "one size fits all approach to education" and "college for all," aiming to modernize American workforce programs for high-paying, skilled trade jobs.
Education has become a significant predictor of political leanings, with Republicans winning 14 of the 15 least educated states in the 2024 election while Democrats won 14 of the 15 most educated states. While the emphasis on college for earnings is changing, the type of degree matters significantly, with engineering and business majors earning more than those in education or the arts.
The "Heavy Metal Summer Experience" is a non-profit program that exposes high school students to trade careers like welding, plumbing, and piping. The program aims to educate both students and parents about the earning potential, benefits (pensions, healthcare), and no-cost union training available in the trades. The trades are no longer just "blue-collar"; they require technical proficiency and an understanding of computers due to increased technology.
Bottom Line, the traditional path of "college for all" is being re-evaluated, with skilled trades offering lucrative, secure, and entrepreneurial career paths that are increasingly in demand and providing significant financial benefits without the burden of college debt.
About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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