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🇫🇷 France /Economy & Trade

Manual trades surge in U.S. as AI fuels demand for electricians

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Manual trades, like electricians, are experiencing a surge in demand in the U.S., partly due to concerns about AI's impact on white-collar jobs.
  • Young adults are increasingly choosing vocational training over traditional university paths, citing better job security and faster training.
  • The rise of AI data centers is also fueling demand for skilled tradespeople, particularly electricians.

Long overlooked, manual trades are experiencing a renaissance in the United States, attracting a new generation of workers who see them as a secure alternative to jobs potentially threatened by artificial intelligence. Electricians, in particular, are in high demand, with the U.S. Department of Labor projecting a 9% increase in their numbers by 2034, a rate significantly faster than the national average.

Young adults are shifting their career aspirations, increasingly opting for technical institutes over university degrees. Nizier Lawrence, in his twenties, exemplifies this trend. After three years of university, he sought a "break" and enrolled in Apex, a technical institute, to become an electrician. He found the vocational training more impactful, stating, "I learned more in three weeks than in three years at university."

I learned more in three weeks than in three years at university.

— Nizier LawrenceNizier Lawrence, a student at Apex Technical School, contrasts his vocational training experience with his previous university studies.

While many students don't explicitly discuss AI's job displacement fears, they emphasize job security. Anthony Byrd, a classmate of Nizier's, confidently asserts, "There will always be work." He adds, "Everything runs on electricity today. Without us, the world collapses."

There will always be work. Everything runs on electricity today. Without us, the world collapses.

— Anthony ByrdAnthony Byrd, a classmate of Nizier's, speaks about the job security of electricians.

Paradoxically, the growth of AI has spurred the construction of data centers, which require a substantial workforce, especially electricians. Zelda Cuesta, a coordinator at Apex Technical School, notes a rejuvenation in student demographics. She recalls a time when vocational schools were looked down upon, but now, "when I go to high schools, I'm a rock star."

Although the training cost, around $18,000, is significant, it's considerably less than the average annual university cost of over $38,000 in the U.S. Furthermore, Apex trains an electrician in about seven months, compared to a minimum of four years for a university degree. The average salary for an electrician has also seen a substantial increase, jumping 55% between 2015 and 2025, according to the Department of Labor.

Before, the academy (of New York) looked down on professional schools a bit. They wanted to send everyone to university. (...) But today, when I go to high schools, I'm a rock star.

— Zelda CuestaZelda Cuesta, a coordinator at Apex Technical School, describes the changing perception of vocational training.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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