For the first time in a generation, a college degree no longer guarantees smoother entry into the workforce.
Recent reporting from The Washington Post shows that trade professionals such as plumbers, electricians, and pipe fitters are finding jobs more easily than many newly minted graduates. This reversal marks a historic shift in hiring patterns across the United States.
Data tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that trade workers surpassed college educated employees in employment rates last year.
This is the first time such a gap has appeared since the early 1990s. Demand for hands on skills has risen steadily, while several traditional office roles have slowed.
A major driver of this change is artificial intelligence. Automation is reshaping white collar work, while fueling construction of data centers and infrastructure. As a result, skilled trade workers are seeing new opportunities and stronger job security.