AI: Your job won’t be outsourced
Having watched workers in white-collar professions, excluding health care, suffer through lay-offs, lost jobs courtesy of offshoring over the past 2.5 decades, I’ve said for years that high schools should put more effort into steering students into the traditional blue-collar trades.
Instead, too many, not all, have pumped up “Get a college education,” as if that’s the path to riches and every student is college material.
With the advent of dual-enrollment programs at many local school districts, more of that has happened in recent years – high school students’ increased interest in the trade industries.
Meaning, with the dual-enrollment programs, high school students can now graduate with an associate’s degree already in hand from South Texas College, for example, that focuses on a skilled trade, whether it be an auto mechanic (renamed auto technicians), HVAC, plumbing, nursing, IT, construction. Plus, they have a high school diploma.
Those jobs are like gold, in my opinion.
Whereas the poor college grad with, for example, a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, English, journalism, are too often left with a relatively huge college debt and the inability to find a job. At least one that promises a future that includes steady work.
In the “old days,” now renamed, “back in the day,” a man or a woman with a college degree could be fairly certain of landing a decent paying job that would last their entire career. The corporation for which they worked wouldn’t cut the legs out from under them and open up shop in China, India, Mexico, or replace them with a robot. Plus, their employers considered them to be “valued employees.”
Since at least the mid-1990s, that’s no longer been the case. Too many employees are simply considered to be a commodity, easy to toss into the trash bin when and if the corporate business owner thinks he or she can find a way to cut costs, which usually begins with terminating employment of the people who need a job. Call it pink-slip city.
The CNBC Story
This week, CNBC published a great story written by Morgan Smith, which carried this headline:
“Meet the Gen Zers skipping college to take blue-collar jobs and launch trade businesses: ‘One of the smartest decisions I ever made’”
The story focuses on what I just wrote about:
High school seniors who are choosing to pursue a trade instead of a college degree.
Some of the people featured include a woman who is now an auto technician who’s pulling down a good paycheck.
If you know of an auto dealer, ask him or her how hard it is to find a good auto mechanic these days.
Nearly impossible, they say.
So finding a job isn’t going to be hard if you have the experience.
Same with HVAC, plumbing, construction, a good handyman.
Also, the longtime workers in those industries are nearing retirement, and their bodies are running out of gas. To make matters worse, there are not enough young people choosing to learn a trade.
For some reason, they’ve bought into the “get a college degree” mantra, which is really all about money.
Meaning, when it comes to supply and demand, for those in their 20s who have a skill, the jobs are there to be had.
The financial sector (Wall Street) wants high school seniors to borrow money for a college degree. If they can’t get a job after graduation, well, that’s on them. The loan payments are still due.
I say, if you’re still young, or your child doesn’t seem like college material, which was my case because I hated high school book work, then steer them toward a trade.
All of the traditional blue-collar trades are paying well. Granted, most carry an apprenticeship requirement for state licensure, (for example, three years for HVAC), but while serving as an apprentice, to become a licensed plumber, for example, you’re still getting paid.
Put another way, you’re getting an education, and you’re getting paid to get it.
Liken it to a free college degree with no chance of getting laid off.
The CNBC story speaks to that, and it also includes people in their 20s who not only learned a trade, but they’ve started their own business, and they’re making good money.
The story can easily be found online by simply typing the headline into any search engine.
The AI Problem & Story
All of this talk about job layoffs doesn’t even include the encroachment of AI, which promises to steal even more jobs from America’s workforce.
One thing it’s never going to steal:
A job from an auto mechanic, plumber, electrician, HVAC tech, carpenter, mason, landscaper, etc.
Even journalists aren’t being spared from the encroachment of AI. More and more publications are using AI to help either write a story or gather info or fill in the gaps.
Get a bachelor’s degree in “communications,” the new word for “journalism,” but before you do, go online and do a search for “job layoffs in the newspaper industry.”
It’s not just newspapers, but also lost journo jobs with TV and radio.
The whole news industry is in a free fall with no end in sight.
Add to that mix, cratered in large part to the loss in advertising, which has mainly gone to the tech giants in Silicon Valley, more and more AI now being introduced into newsrooms, and Houston, we have a problem for those who possess student loan debt.
For example, in the writing of this story, I called up Google’s AI, and I asked it to write a story about this very topic: a blue-collar trade job vs. getting a student loan for a college degree, and the following prose is what it spit out in less than a minute.
Now, to be ethical, I’d have to admit I used AI, even if I edited it, and interviewed a few real people to fill in the gaps, but trust me, there will be, and already are, some news pubs that are using AI, and they’re not divulging its use to the readers.
I’m divulging it — the following story was written by a computer program (AI), but you’d be hard pressed to know it if I didn’t announce it.
Bottom line: if you’re good with your hands, can think for yourself, diagnose problems, give some serious thought to a blue-collar trade.
You’ll have a job for life.
THE AI COPY:
In the heart of Texas, where the heat can be relentless, high school senior Maria was facing a decision that would shape her future. College, with its promise of intellectual growth and a prestigious degree, beckoned her. But the escalating cost of tuition, coupled with the uncertainty of post-graduate employment, made her pause.
Across town, at the local trade school, a different path unfolded. Her friend, Miguel, was mastering the intricacies of plumbing. He spoke of a steady income, a sense of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of seeing his handiwork transform homes. Maria's initial skepticism turned into curiosity as she listened to Miguel's stories.
One afternoon, Maria visited the trade school. The campus buzzed with activity – students soldered pipes, wired electrical circuits, and learned the art of HVAC repair. The instructors, seasoned professionals, shared their experiences and offered guidance. Maria was particularly drawn to the hands-on approach and the emphasis on practical skills.
As she weighed her options, Maria's parents offered their support. Her father, a lifelong electrician, spoke of the challenges and rewards of a trade. Her mother, a nurse, acknowledged the value of a college degree but also emphasized the importance of finding a fulfilling career.
With growing confidence, Maria decided to enroll in the HVAC program at the trade school. The initial months were demanding, as she mastered the fundamentals of thermodynamics, refrigeration, and electrical systems. But the sense of accomplishment that came with each successful repair fueled her determination.
Through internships and part-time work, Maria gained valuable experience and built a network of professionals. She discovered a passion for troubleshooting complex HVAC systems and the satisfaction of providing comfort to homeowners.
Upon graduation, Maria secured a well-paying job with a reputable HVAC company. Her starting salary exceeded the average income of many college graduates, and she was eligible for benefits like healthcare and retirement plans.
As Maria's career progressed, she realized that her decision to pursue a trade had been the right one. She enjoyed the autonomy and flexibility of her work, the opportunity to continually learn and grow, and the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in people's lives.
Maria's story is not unique. Many high school seniors are increasingly considering trade schools as a viable and rewarding alternative to college. The rising cost of higher education, coupled with the uncertain job market, has made vocational training more appealing.
While a college degree may still be the traditional path for many, the trade industry offers a wealth of opportunities for those who are passionate about handson work, problem-solving, and making a positive impact on their communities.
Final Note From Me
The AI copy (story) printed above also eliminated the need for a copy editor. Granted, it began a sentence or two with a preposition, but that’s pretty much become standard practice these days. The rules of grammar tend to change, just like everything else.
Not bad, though, for a story completely generated by artificial intelligence produced as a final draft in less than 30 seconds, with the help of a simple prompt from me.
The world is changing. That’s one of the few things about which I know I’m right.
Before signing up for a college loan, give the trade industries some serious thought.
Just my opinion.