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engineer inspect robotic arm in workshop Photo: visootu2/Envato

‘Dealing with alarming math’: Mike Rowe raises concerns over shortage of skilled tradespeople in the US — despite these jobs offering a ‘straight path to a 6-figure salary’

Vishesh Raisinghani
Nov 20, 2024
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For every five tradespeople who retire, only two are entering the field. That’s according to TV presenter Mike Rowe, who recently appeared on Fox News to talk about the “alarming math” he says the blue collar segment of the economy faces.

Rowe told Fox’s Brian Kilmeade that, 16 years ago, he helped start a campaign to promote “a couple good jobs that nobody seemed to want that, nevertheless, gave you a straight path towards a six-figure salary.”

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“We’ve been beating the drum ever since,” he said. Has Rowe’s drumbeat finally caught the attention of younger Americans?

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Gen Z takes up trade jobs

Gen Z Americans, those born between 1997 and 2012, are increasingly attracted to skilled trades, according to the second annual Future of the Skilled Trades report from gig-work platform Thumbtack.

More than half of this cohort said they were considering a job in the trades. The report goes as far as to label Americans in this age group the “Toolbelt Generation”.

However, Mike Rowe and his ilk may not be the driving force behind this shift. Instead, younger Americans say they’re inspired by what they see on social media.

Skilled trades work has become more “Instagrammable” in recent years, said 60% of respondents — a huge attraction for a generation that is chronically online.

The number of trades-related posts on TikTok and Instagram surged 52% from 2023 to 2024, according to the report, while 77% of Gen Z say they’ve seen more attention being paid to skilled trades recently.

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Besides looking cool online, younger Americans might be attracted to these roles because of higher salaries and promising growth.

A cable technician and an aircraft mechanic can earn an average salary of $70,714 and $82,476 respectively, according to Indeed.

Frontline jobs in the emerging green energy sector are growing rapidly. The number of wind turbine technician jobs is expected to grow 60% from 2023 to 2033, while the number of solar installer jobs is expected to grow 22% over the same period.

If you’re looking to discover a new career and earn a competitive salary too, Indeed outlines a simple series of steps.

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How to get into the trades

The first step for anyone looking to get into the trades, according to Indeed, is to complete high school. Skilled trades usually don’t require a college degree, but most require a high school diploma or GED.

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The next step is to pick the right trade depending on your skills, strengths and interests. If you don’t enjoy working outdoors, repairing wind turbines might not be a good fit for you, but you could consider plumbing or elevator maintenance instead.

Once you’ve picked a trade, find technical schools or take certification classes at a community college to start training. This database search for accredited institutions could be a good place to start.

After a basic certification, you could seek out an apprenticeship program that allows you to develop skills while being paid on the job. During the apprenticeship, you could obtain a license to practice in your field and eventually graduate to journeyman, a senior designation that indicates a level of mastery over a trade.

This process might take several years, but if you accumulate enough experience and credentials, you could break into the six-figure salary club, as Rowe suggests.

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Vishesh Raisinghani Freelance Writer

Vishesh Raisinghani is a financial journalist covering personal finance, investing and the global economy. He's also the founder of Sharpe Ascension Inc., a content marketing agency focused on investment firms. His work has appeared in Moneywise, Yahoo Finance!, Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine and Piggybank.

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