Skilled Trades

30 articles

Diverse group of trainees learning skilled trades like electrical and plumbing at Walmart's new Atlanta training hub.
Industry

Walmart opens Atlanta skilled trades training hub

Walmart now offers some internally trained technicians a pay range up to $51 per hour, a significant boost from typical retail wages.

Ben Foster·June 30, 2026
Experienced tradespeople mentoring young apprentices in a workshop, highlighting the importance of guidance in closing the skilled trades gap.
Trades

Mentorship Programs are Key to Bridging the Skilled Trades Gap by 2026

Despite a critical shortage of skilled trades workers, 35 percent of middle and high school parents believe vocational programs are only for 'high-achieving' students, revealing a deep-seated percepti

Rick Donovan·June 30, 2026
Young women in a construction camp learning to build planter boxes and wire light switches, gaining hands-on experience in skilled trades.
Trades

Girls construction camp inspires young women in skilled trades

On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, female high school students at Orange Technical College, West Campus, built planter boxes and wired light switches.

Rick Donovan·June 27, 2026
Diverse trainees learning fiber optic installation at Meta's Level-Up program, showcasing a modern approach to skilled trades education and career development.
Industry

Meta's $115M Academy Fights Skilled Trades Gap With New Training

In just seven days, Meta's Level-Up fiber installation training program received 35,000 applications.

Rick Donovan·June 27, 2026
Diverse Texans learning skilled trades like welding, carpentry, and electrical work in a modern training facility, highlighting workforce development initiatives.
Trades

Texas Gov. Abbott Boosts Skilled Trades Training for High-Demand Jobs

Governor Greg Abbott has directed four Texas state agencies to immediately overhaul workforce development programs.

Rick Donovan·June 26, 2026
Diverse group of women in skilled trades on a construction site, one pointing at a blueprint, symbolizing leadership and progress.
Trades

Women in Skilled Trades Face Stalled Leadership, Despite Gains

In 2024, tradeswomen in construction and extraction occupations reached 366,360, the highest percentage since 2015, according to Manufacturers Alliance .

Ben Foster·June 26, 2026
Electricians installing wiring in a futuristic data center, highlighting the crucial role of skilled trades in supporting AI infrastructure growth.
Trades

Nvidia CEO: AI boom needs 130,000 more electricians

The United States needs 130,000 more trained electricians by 2030, just to keep pace with AI infrastructure expansion.

Rick Donovan·June 25, 2026
Diverse skilled trades workers collaborating on a construction site, symbolizing Ontario's economic stability and future growth.
Trades

Skilled trades education is key to Ontario's 2026 economic stability.

Ontario's economy is bleeding $24 billion annually due to a critical shortage of skilled trades workers.

Rick Donovan·June 22, 2026
Young Indian student choosing between a sterile MBA office and a dynamic, hands-on skilled trades workshop, symbolizing a career choice.
Trades

India's CEA Urges Students Toward Skilled Trades Over MBAs

India's Chief Economic Adviser V.

Rick Donovan·June 22, 2026
Students in TSTC uniforms learn diesel engine repair from a Cummins technician in a state-of-the-art workshop, highlighting the expanded partnership.
Automotive Services

Cummins Expands Diesel Program Partnership with TSTC

Select students entering Texas State Technical College's Diesel Equipment program may now receive an employment guarantee from Cummins distributors before their training even begins, according to Uti

Luis Ortega·June 21, 2026
A split image showing a robotic arm processing data on one side and skilled tradespeople working on a construction site on the other, illustrating AI's impact on different job sectors.
Industry

AI Boosts Skilled Trades, Threatens White-Collar Tech Jobs

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced in September 2025 that AI advancements eliminated 4,000 customer support roles, according to LockedInAI .

Rick Donovan·June 20, 2026
Robots and AI interfaces performing skilled trade tasks, with concerned young workers observing the changing landscape of the industry.
Industry

AI threatens skilled trades' entry-level jobs, creating a future talent crisis.

Meta launched a $115 million training program for AI infrastructure jobs, offering free, five-week courses with guaranteed employment for graduates, according to Memeburn .

Rick Donovan·June 20, 2026
Skilled tradespeople working on a construction site contrasted with a glowing AI interface, symbolizing the future of work and automation.
Industry

AI won't replace skilled trades; white-collar jobs are at risk.

Headlines warn of AI replacing factory workers, but a recent report found human lawyers now spend 70% less time reviewing contracts at major firms, thanks to AI.

Rick Donovan·June 19, 2026
A visual representation of AI and skilled trades, showing advanced technology alongside skilled workers building infrastructure, symbolizing the growing demand for trades.
Industry

AI Won't Replace Skilled Trades: Demand Soars as Training Lags

Meta is pouring $115 million into a roughly five-week program that guarantees graduates a job in skilled trades, a stark contrast to the uncertain job market facing many four-year degree holders, acco

Ben Foster·June 19, 2026
Skilled Indian plumber earning more than a junior software developer, illustrating a significant shift in the country's job market favoring trades.
Trades

India emphasizes skilled trades as tech sector shifts

In Bengaluru, a city synonymous with India's tech boom, a certified plumber now earns more than a junior software developer—a stark reversal from a decade ago.

Rick Donovan·June 18, 2026
Robotics technician in India working with advanced AI machinery, symbolizing the rise of skilled trades over traditional white-collar jobs.
Trades

India's skilled trades outpace MBAs in AI era

Demand for robotics technicians in India has skyrocketed by over 500% in just four years, far outpacing the growth and salary increases seen in many entry-level white-collar jobs.

Rick Donovan·June 17, 2026
Young women in electrotechnology trades, demonstrating skill and confidence on a modern, well-lit construction site, breaking traditional gender barriers.
Industry

Female electrotechnology students enter trades despite underrepresentation

Electrician Amy Barratt-Singh couldn't ask for basic welfare facilities on her first job site, intimidated by the environment, according to idealind .

Rick Donovan·June 17, 2026
A dimly lit, partially constructed hospital wing with visible electrical conduits, symbolizing the skilled trades shortage impacting healthcare infrastructure.
Industry

Healthcare Industry Trends 2026: Skilled Trades Face Shortage

A major Ohio hospital delayed a new surgical wing's opening by six months.

Ben Foster·June 17, 2026
Skilled tradesperson working on infrastructure in India, symbolizing economic growth and opportunity surpassing traditional white-collar roles.
Trades

India's economic future sees skilled trades outpace white-collar jobs

In India, average blue-collar salaries are now growing at 5.

Rick Donovan·June 16, 2026
Young adults receiving vocational training in a high-tech data center environment, learning to become data center technicians.
Trades

Meta's New Academy Trains for Data Center Tech Jobs

In 2026, Meta is committing $115 million to provide free training, including tuition, housing, and a daily stipend, for a five-week program with a guaranteed job upon completion, according to...

Rick Donovan·June 16, 2026
Diverse group of plumbers, electricians, and construction workers collaborating on a holographic blueprint, symbolizing Google's investment in skilled trades training.
Trades

Google invests $50 million in skilled trades training programs

Google, known for search and AI, has pledged $50 million to train over 300,000 plumbers, electricians, and construction workers across 20 states.

Rick Donovan·June 13, 2026
CPUT graduate Phaphama Ngalimani proudly inspects a wooden furniture piece in his bustling carpentry workshop, showcasing his successful transition to entrepreneurship.
Trades

CPUT graduate picks carpentry business over teaching career

Phaphama Ngalimani, a Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) graduate, now earns in one week from his carpentry business what he previously made in three months as a contract teacher, accordin

Rick Donovan·June 9, 2026
Diverse group of aspiring apprentices engaged in hands-on training in a modern workshop, symbolizing the rise of vocational careers.
Trades

Apprenticeships Surge Past Traditional Training, But Equity Gaps Remain

In 2024, over 560 candidates applied for just 27 spots in the prestigious Rolex apprenticeship program, resulting in a staggering 4.

Rick Donovan·June 9, 2026
A bustling construction site at dusk, symbolizing the current skilled trades shortage and the looming impact of automation and technological advancements.
Industry

Skilled Trades Face Record Shortage Amidst Industry Upheaval

The US economy currently loses an estimated $1 trillion annually due to delayed work and rising costs from a severe shortage of skilled trades workers.

Rick Donovan·June 9, 2026
Young Alabamians in aviation and construction gear looking towards a bright future, symbolizing opportunities in skilled trades.
Trades

Alabama Building Futures: $2,000 for Aviation, Construction

Only 50 Alabama residents will receive a $2,000 scholarship for aviation or construction careers through a new state program.

Rick Donovan·June 8, 2026
Young adults in Gen Z actively participating in skilled trades, showcasing a modern and professional approach to vocational careers.
Industry

Gen Z Favors Trades Over College Amidst Economic Shifts

In spring 2026, enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs, commonly offered by trade schools, surged by 10.

Ben Foster·June 7, 2026
High school students participating in a hands-on construction trade program, learning practical skills for future careers in the skilled trades.
Industry

High school construction programs build future skilled workforce

At L'Anse Creuse High School, students scan QR codes on an 'apprenticeship wall' to instantly apply for local construction jobs, bypassing traditional college applications.

Rick Donovan·June 6, 2026
Skilled trades worker demonstrating correct ergonomic posture on a construction site, highlighting the importance of preventing musculoskeletal disorders.
Safety

What is Skilled Trades Ergonomics and Why Does it Prevent MSDs?

More than 90% of construction firms in a recent survey had a written safety program, yet the majority lacked trade-specific ergonomic interventions, leaving over 11,000 workers vulnerable to preventab

Ben Foster·June 4, 2026
Diverse apprentices learning carpentry and electrical skills in a bright, modern workshop, symbolizing the future of skilled trades.
Trades

Labor Dept. Awards $30M for Skilled Trades Education Apprenticeship Programs

The U.S. Department of Labor is injecting $30 million into skilled trades training programs. BlackRock simultaneously launched a $25 million initiative. This marks a combined $55 million surge in publ

Rick Donovan·June 3, 2026
Students receiving hands-on training in a state-of-the-art skilled trades workshop, preparing for immediate workforce entry.
Trades

Skilled trades education is key to workforce development.

Skilled trades education is vital for workforce development, with significant public and private investment driving training initiatives to address critical shortages.

Rick Donovan·May 30, 2026