Your mind may dream big, but your hands can build a future AI can never replace

Has artificial intelligence AI change your life in a positive way or negative way?

Isn't it funny how quickly the story changes? That degree was supposed to guarantee stability and status.

But now, here we are in 2025. Artificial intelligence is so advanced that many of the jobs once reserved for college graduates -- the thinking jobs, the "safe" jobs -- are being automated away.

Believe it or not this is a follow-up to an article I wrote not long ago: AI Is Eating Entry-Level Computer Science Jobs - And I've Seen It Happen Firsthand

Tasks in programming, legal research, customer support, even analysis are being handled faster and cheaper by machines.

The result?

New grads are entering one of the toughest job markets in decades, while debt from their degrees weighs heavy on their backs.

Meanwhile, a different kind of opportunity is rising. Plumbing. Electrical work. Welding. Construction. Jobs that only a few years ago were brushed aside as "blue collar" or "less prestigious" are suddenly in demand -- and in some cases paying better than office jobs.

And it's not just talk -- the numbers are backing it up. More young people are questioning whether the traditional college path is worth the debt, while demand for skilled hands is surging.

Reports show that wages in construction, plumbing, and electrical work have grown faster than many white-collar salaries in recent years, making these jobs harder to ignore.

CNBC recently highlighted plumbers earning well into six figures, electricians with salaries climbing toward $100,000, and trade schools producing debt-free graduates who are out-earning their friends with bachelor's degrees.

Here's the twist:

AI can think, but it can't show up at your house to fix a broken pipe. It can write code, but it can't rewire a building. It can analyze data, but it can't install solar panels on your roof.

That simple gap -- the need for skilled hands -- is reshaping the labor market right before our eyes.

And the numbers tell the story. According to reports, four out of ten young people with a university degree are now opting for blue-collar careers.

Just 22% of U.S. adults say college was "worth it."

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that electricians will see an 11% job growth rate between 2023 and 2033, while plumbers and pipefitters will grow by 6% -- both well above the national average.

Salaries in these fields are climbing faster than in white-collar jobs, with welders, plumbers, and construction workers seeing double-digit wage growth in just the last five years.

This shift isn't just about money -- it's about practicality.

College tuition now runs anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000 for a four-year degree, often leaving students with decades of debt. Meanwhile, apprenticeships for trades can cost less than $10,000, and within a few years those same students are earning steady income without the crushing financial burden.

Gen Z sees it clearly. More than half say they're seriously considering skilled trades, and 40% of high school graduates are choosing vocational training over universities.

What used to be looked down on -- wearing a hard hat or carrying a toolbox -- is now seen as a smart move.

In fact, surveys show 60% of young people now view blue-collar work as more respected than it was a generation ago, and 70% value its stability.

So here's the bigger picture: the rise of AI isn't just killing certain jobs, it's re-ranking them. It's flipping the ladder upside down.

The office job, once the pinnacle of achievement, is now shaky ground.

The trades, once considered "less than," are turning into reliable stepping stones to financial independence -- and in some cases, wealth.

The message is clear: in an age of artificial intelligence, human skill still matters -- especially the kind of skill no algorithm can perform.

After I lost all of my online income overnight making money online because some hacker decided to have some fun, I decided to build a more "real life" income by investing into real estate and rental properties. People need a place to stay, don't they?

I am not where I want to be yet but I'm on my way to a safer source of income. I just to grow that source slowly but surely.

Why am I telling you this?

The question isn't whether AI will take job one day. The question is: will you be ready to pivot before it does?

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