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Posted on 08/23/2025 9:24:26 AM PDT by DFG
It’s noon on a Thursday, but the day’s lunch break is already over and the cement building in Concord is once again full. Class is in session. A dozen students — most dressed in gray canvas button-downs and baseball caps — sit with rapt attention facing the whiteboard at the front of the room. But the topic of today’s lesson isn’t biology, math or literature. It’s how to fabricate drawings for pipe fitting.
The students here are apprentices with United Association Local 342, a union that trains and represents workers in the pipe trades industries. They’ll complete a five-year paid apprenticeship to graduate as journeymen — and expect to earn a union wage of $80.50 an hour. Trainees cite a desire to work with their hands and the competitive pay as reasons for pursuing a career in the skilled trades. But young adults entering the workforce are facing a new challenge that is increasing the attractiveness of blue-collar jobs: the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
Data from the Federal Reserve shows that among recent college graduates, the unemployment rates for majors once heralded as tickets to high-salary, high-status jobs like computer engineering and computer science were 7.5% and 6.1%, respectively. In contrast, construction services majors’ unemployment rate was just 0.7%.
Experts say Silicon Valley’s AI models’ capabilities are encroaching on many entry-level white-collar jobs. The CEO of generative AI powerhouse Anthropic told Axios in May that AI could erase half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and drive unemployment to 10% to 20% in the next one to five years.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
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Can they still afford to buy a house there?
Data from the Federal Reserve shows that among recent college graduates, the unemployment rates for majors once heralded as tickets to high-salary, high-status jobs like computer engineering and computer science were 7.5% and 6.1%, respectively. In contrast, construction services majors’ unemployment rate was just 0.7%.
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Well, employment of Indian H1B’s likely accounts for much of that high unemployment rate. Perhaps H1B hiring can be expanded more into the construction trades to get that unemployment rate up?
/sarc
With the technology available today people can work for themselves and/or form partnerships. That started when the internet was new, they called it “two guys and a desk” and the early adopters did very well.
They will eventually be able to leave California.
Physical work is the wheelhouse of the young.
However, that pipe fitter at 50 is probably not fitting pipe. He’s supervising or teaching or drafting or running logistics etc. because his body is shot.
The story of nearly all the trades.
That’s why they make $80/hr with excellent benefits.
They’re worth every penny.
I have seven kids, three of which have STEM college degrees. All of them are doing great. Comically, the two richest ones have zero college. One is an Iron worker, the other started his own fuel delivery service. he’s into millions per year.
College is for those that can’t do it themselves.
Agreed. I like the concept of more young people earning trades. But your point is right. I’d like to see what pipe fitters make in a lower cost of living area.
GREAT!!! First two threads have been great news...
Mike Rowe would love this story! Right up his alley...He has the right idea about “the trades” also....
I believe he’s from CA also if I recall....
+1
“...the other started his own fuel delivery service.”
THIS is where it’s at. Jobs are too often the road to mediocrity.
Mike Rowe is from Baltimore.
Anecdotally, you are right on the money.
A year away from his bachelor’s degree, my son (the brainiac) decided to go into a trade(s).
He started otj raining from the ground up (”This is a broom. Here’s how you use it”).
He became an industrial battery & charger certified technician.
He then became a mechanic and is now a journeyman mechanic.
He’s been with the same employer & union 20+ years.
He’s 44. Never had student debt. Has more money then he knows what to do with. He’s fully vested in his pension.
and...
His body is shot (hands, knees, shoulders, back).
AI is going to tank many, many companies.
Therein is the problem with this career track.
Trade off for more money/less debt, is a worn out body while still relatively young. You live in it the rest of your life and it takes up more of that money dealing with the body problems.
Theres no one right way, pros and cons to everything.
College has really only been a problem for people who paid for worthless degrees, and those in worthless fields. Plenty have also used college just to get a MRS degree.
“”Mike Rowe is from Baltimore.””
Depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is....I think he was born in MD but makes his home in CA....I was born and raised in upstate NY 89 years ago but I haven’t lived there in nearly 70 years so I don’t consider myself “from” NY.
“”A former resident of San Francisco, California,[40][41] Rowe now resides in nearby Belvedere, California.[42]””
I lived in both N. and S. CA for 50 years and I don’t know where Belvedere is. That’s why we have the internet...LOL. It’s Marin County...surprise to me.
That's the main downside to the trades. They can be hard on the body. The hope is to reach a supervisory role before your health becomes a major issue.
Thank you all.
Interesting thing is, at least for now, ...If he ever takes an extended vacation (Which he hardly does)...he ends up feeling pretty good, sore body-wise.
Metalworking is my trade of choice for making a living. Just the way my brain is wired I suppose. Been 34 years in the trade. At a point along my journey I did engineering related...CAD/CAM tooling & fixture design, etc...but that had me sit in front of a computer all day. Fascinating work...virtual machining environment...but just could not handle being “cocooned” in an office like that. Did it for 12 years and then went back to the shop floor where my true love is. Today I setup, operate, and maintain process quality for multi-axis CNC machining of 3D printed nickel alloy rocket engine parts. Some of these parts reach $1Million by the time that they get to my machine. Some of the machinists here (Blue Origin - Huntsville) run machines that you could park a full size SUV inside. Simply awe inspiring technology. I’m not a millionaire by a long shot. OT will get me $200K annually...but I really love going to work today. Thanks Uncle Jeff. :-)
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