Artificial intelligence is evolving at an incredible pace, and the business world is embracing it just as quickly. As companies jump at the chance to automate tasks, cut expenses and raise efficiency, what is the cost of AI’s immense potential on the workforce? Industries once thought stable are now under threat from machines that can generate code and can even mimic human voices. But there are some industries that remain secure against the rise of AI: construction. Building homes, schools, offices and buildings is human and that’s exactly why it remains one of the most rewarding and stable career paths available for years to come.
Television host Mike Rowe, a longtime advocate for skilled trades, has argued that AI is coming for the coders, an antithesis to the career advice given to young aspiring professionals who, for more than a decade, have been told that opportunities in computer science and programming would lead to stable and lucrative careers. Now, the advent of AI seems to challenge that notion.
However, he was quick to add that those in construction such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters shouldn’t be fearful because they have never been in such demand. The U.S. construction industry faces real problems as legacy leaders retire, and the lack of skilled labor persists, driving up construction costs and complicating projects. From city infrastructure to new housing developments, projects rely on hands-on human skill sets and workloads that AI for now can’t solve. In fact, trade work may be the most promising path for young aspiring workers, today. Recent economic projections indicate that the construction industry must attract more than 400,000 new workers in 2025 to balance supply and demand.
National stories are capturing the landscape, showing that students are catching on. Registered apprenticeship programs and trade schools are growing in popularity as young people realize that four-year degree programs and student-debt are not the only options. At career expos across the country, high school students are gravitating toward construction demonstrations, skills that can’t be outsourced and offer stability in a time when so many white-collar careers face disruption.
Meanwhile, construction apprenticeship programs like those run by Associated Builders and Contractors of Nevada show how this works in practice. Registered with both state and federal authorities, the program prepares students across trades such as electrical, heavy equipment operations and plumbing. Apprentices spend their days on jobsites and their evenings in their classrooms. This combines thousands of hours of hands-on training with a structured education. Instead of a traditional college, graduates are debt free as their contractor pays for their entire education and ready to step into professional roles.
ABC Nevada’s apprenticeship programs are more than just a training program but a safeguard for Nevada’s economic future. Nevada is growing rapidly and none of it will be possible without a workforce of skilled tradespeople in place. While AI may improve administrative duties like scheduling or safety monitoring, it cannot replace the craftsmanship required on a construction site.
If Nevada is serious about preparing for the future, we need to invest in the trades. The men and women who build our communities are not replaceable by machines, but they are the foundation of our state’s growth. For young Nevadan’s seeking security in an uncertain job market, the answer is on the jobsite.
Kara Arenas is vice president at ABC Nevada.
