04/28/2026
We don’t just have an inflation problem… we have a production problem.
For years, young people have been pushed toward college and office jobs while the trades were treated like a backup plan.
Now we’re seeing the results.
Homes are harder to build.
Projects take longer.
Skilled labor is harder to find.
Materials and services cost more because there simply aren’t enough people producing, building, installing, repairing, and maintaining the things we all depend on.
In construction, we see this every day.
The truth is, blue-collar work is not outdated. It is becoming more important than ever.
And with AI changing the workforce, this conversation matters even more. Many digital and office-based jobs are becoming easier to automate, but skilled trades still require hands-on problem solving, judgment, experience, and the ability to adapt in the real world.
You can’t automate a carpenter framing a house.
You can’t replace a plumber solving a hidden issue behind a wall.
You can’t shortcut the skill it takes to build something correctly.
Trades are not the “lesser” path.
They are essential careers that keep our homes, businesses, roads, utilities, and communities moving.
If we want more housing, stronger infrastructure, better supply chains, and a healthier economy, we need to start encouraging the next generation to build again.
