“Some of them are snagging entry-level jobs to the tune of $70,000 a year,” Fox News host Shannon Bream explained.
She interviewed Mike Rowe, who has been championing these so-called “dirty jobs” for years. “The country is hungry, maybe even starving for examples of people who have prospered without a four-year degree,” he said. “And I don’t have to tell you, the 7.4 million open positions right now in our country, the majority of those do not require a degree.” (2)
Many other experts agree: the new American Dream could be built with a toolbox rather than a diploma. Here’s what’s driving this shift.
Sky-high college costs and AI job disruption
After decades of tuition inflation and predatory lending, the country is facing a full-blown student loan crisis. In the second quarter of 2025, Americans owed a total of $1.64 trillion in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (3) This figure represents roughly 42.5 million Americans, according to the Education Data Initiative. (4)
At the same time, college graduates are facing a tighter job market. Earlier this year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei estimated that nearly half of all entry-level jobs could be displaced by evolving AI technology. (5) Those fears already appear to be materializing: According to a recent Handshake report, entry-level job postings are down 15%, but applications have surged 30%, creating fierce competition for fewer opportunities. (6)
Against that backdrop, skilled trades are starting to look far more appealing than they may have in the past. Many trades offer job security in sectors that can’t easily be automated — along with strong wages and little to no debt. Instead of paying tens of thousands for a degree, trade school students can enter the workforce quickly, often earning while they learn.
Growing demand and higher pay for skilled workers
According to a 2024 McKinsey report, demand for skilled workers such as welders, electricians and construction laborers is growing fast, with some roles projected to expand 20-times faster than the rest of the labor market by 2032. (7) In short, there aren’t enough people to fill these jobs, and that shortage is driving wages higher.
Trade schools also offer a much lower financial barrier to entry. The average upfront cost of trade school is $3,973 to $16,877, according to Citizens College Raptor. (8) That’s much lower than the average cost of a college degree of $38,270. (9) Many programs last two years or less, and students often earn income through apprenticeships or qualify for tax credits that further reduce costs.
