A Veteran Electrician Dismantles the 'Learn a Trade' Myth

So You Think You Could Be an Electrician?

The popular story that trades jobs offer AI-proof six-figure salaries is mostly told by people with college degrees. A veteran electrician argues the reality is grimmer: college graduates still out-earn tradespeople, workplace injuries are common and sometimes fatal, and coveted union jobs are as competitive as elite white-collar positions. Even AI may not spare the trades, since innovation often bypasses physical dexterity rather than enhancing it.