As companies increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, blue-collar jobs are experiencing a resurgence. This trend comes at a pivotal moment as Labor Day 2025 approaches, highlighting growing uncertainties in the job market, particularly within high-paying white-collar sectors. According to experts, blue-collar workers may prove more resilient in an AI-driven economy.
At Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California, students are being equipped with practical trade skills that leverage the latest technologies. Jeff Andre, an instructor in the college’s Process Technology program, emphasizes the unique qualities of human workers. “You can’t build a machine that can think like a human, act like a human, or look out for each other like humans can,” he stated. His perspective is crucial as the tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, races to develop machines that can mimic human thought and behavior.
The adoption of AI has led to the rise of computer-driven assistants, often referred to as “agents.” Mark Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, discussed the implications of this trend on his workforce during an appearance on the Logan Bartlett podcast. “We’re now providing digital labor. And that is, like, the huge awakening that this is a new, exciting world,” he noted. Benioff pointed to significant productivity gains in engineering, suggesting that his company might not hire anyone in that sector this year due to the efficiency brought by these digital counterparts.
While this may excite some industry leaders, it presents challenges for engineering graduates. The job market for recent university graduates has become increasingly competitive. Michael Bernick, a workforce consultant at Duane and Morris and former head of California’s Employment Development Department, highlights a troubling statistic: over half of college graduates in the state are currently employed in positions that do not require a degree.
Bernick warns that the rise of AI poses a significant threat to white-collar professionals. He noted, “The narrative of past Labor Days, over the past 50 years, has almost entirely been one of our blue-collar decline. Those jobs are making a comeback. And the important thing about those jobs is that they can’t be replaced by AI.” This shift stands in stark contrast to past educational trends that favored four-year university degrees, often stigmatizing community colleges and trade schools.
The perception of blue-collar jobs as less desirable persists, with Bernick attributing this prejudice to what he describes as the “Education-Industrial Complex.” He argues that the skills offered by trade jobs provide essential services that are often undervalued. “Even though these jobs provide more valuable, direct, helpful services to people than many other jobs,” he added.
As the job landscape continues to evolve, Andre encourages potential students to reconsider their educational paths. “We’re really trying to reach people of all ages right now to say, you don’t have to sign up for a four-year school if that’s not your thing,” he explained. “Learn a trade. Learn a skill. Because if you do learn a trade or a skill, you can take it anywhere.”
The pandemic has already transformed various job sectors, with AI being just one of the factors contributing to the changing employment landscape. As technology continues to shape the future of work, the ability to perform hands-on tasks is increasingly viewed as a valuable asset in an uncertain economic environment.