Attention Economy


Friday, October 25, 2024

The Return of the Skills Trade

America’s New Millionaire Class: Plumbers and HVAC Entrepreneurs
https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/plumbers-hvac-skilled-trades-millionaires-2b62bf6c
Private equity is pouring money into skilled-trade small businesses; ‘Next thing you know, you’re running an empire’


Gen Z Plumbers and Construction Workers Are Making #BlueCollar Cool
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/gen-z-plumbers-and-construction-workers-are-making-bluecollar-cool-0c386274
Young social-media stars earn more from TikTok than from their day jobs; ‘You don’t have to get your bachelor’s to be happy.’ 

Why I Skipped College to Be an HVAC Tech
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-i-skipped-college-to-be-an-hvac-tech-99b474c5
I’m thinking about a mortgage rather than student loans.


My take from Jan 2022:
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/590971-will-the-us-higher-education-bubble-finally-burst/
How do we get out of this mess? First and foremost, it is necessary to offer high school graduates multiple pathways to attain a well-paying career. Given that the U.S. economy is suffering from a significant and long-term skills mismatch and facing a massive shortage of truck drivers, welders, electricians, construction workers and a whole slew of various other skilled tradespeople, it is necessary to encourage more entrants into these fields.