For decades, college was treated as the default path to economic mobility for many American workers.
That calculation is becoming more complicated as tuition costs rise, white-collar hiring changes, and artificial intelligence begins affecting portions of entry-level knowledge work.
At the same time, many skilled trades continue to face labor shortages and require work that must be performed in person.
That does not mean every trade is automatically attractive. Compensation, physical demands, training requirements, and geographic demand vary considerably.
But careers that combine specialized skills, strong wages, and durable local demand may become increasingly attractive relative to some traditional office careers.