High school students get asked, “Where are you going to college?” That is still a good question, but as the workforce needs change and higher education costs rise exponentially, there may be a better question.
What if we begin asking, “What skill do you know or can you learn that somebody will need, pay for, and cannot easily be replaced?”
A report published by BusinessWire.com in September 2026 looked at 124 skilled/trade occupations that are currently and projected to be needed annually through 2035. There will be an estimated 1.7 million job openings every single year.
While a great emphasis in some states are shifting to associates degrees, certifications, and advanced on the job training, that is currently only producing 55 workers for every 100 needed. As of the September report, the average age of just over 25% of all skilled workers was 55 years or older.
Employers all across the US are looking for workers who are skilled in electrical wiring, repair to industrial machines and equipment, welding, HVAC installation, and many other jobs that a computer cannot replace.
Workers carrying toolboxes who work with their hands are not as threatened by advanced technology as some may believe. Those prepared to train and remain current in skills in demand are very valuable to companies and customers.
The Hamilton County-North Georgia region has approximately 26,250 production jobs in manufacturing. Georgia is one of nine states where the new national study finds demand for skilled-trade workers already exceeds the available supply.
In our local region, welders average income in 2025 was $51,920; tool-and-die makers earned about $63,350; and programmers for the manufacturing equipment space earned $67,070. Industrial machinery mechanics in the Chattanooga area reached an income as high as $82,400 annually.
The earning potential is a bit greater nationally due to higher costs of living in other regions and with occupations that require a bit more training and risk. Nationally, plumbers and pipefitters earned just under $64,000 in 2025. HVAC technicians averaged $61,000 and electrical power-line installers and maintenance crew members were paid an average of $95,320 but ranged as high as $128,000.
As the labor market changes, the institutions of learning and training which adapt to meet those needs will be used and valued. College is a good pathway for a career; but it’s not the only pathway and not the ideal fit for all.
As you encourage the high school students in your family or friends network, talk to them about the need of a chosen field and the fact that a good or service must be in demand and desired enough for customers to repeatedly buy and consume. Further, the jobs of today and tomorrow will be filled with computers that won’t call in sick, demand pay raises or time off, and need no health benefits and retirement package. It’s terribly important to consider all pathways to various areas of study for a variety of jobs and professions of interest in hard terms. Some will gain the benefits.