It's not blue collar or white collar. It's NEW Collar!

As we look at the job market of 2025, two powerful forces are reshaping the future of vocational work: a surge in new talent and the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).1 The successful and vital promotion of vocational education is increasing the supply of workers with foundational trade skills (high supply = low prices). This is good for companies and bad for workers because the high supply of vocational workers results in lower wages. Simultaneously, AI is boosting efficiency in every sector, which will inevitably lower the overall demand for employees (low demand = low prices). This isn't just for office jobs; AI is impacting hands-on fields many believed were protected, creating a dual pressure where more workers are entering a market that will soon require fewer people.

The belief that hands-on jobs are immune to AI is a dangerous misconception. AI-powered diagnostic systems are already allowing one master auto technician to do the work of several mechanics, while AI-driven logistics software streamlines construction projects, reducing the need for a large workforce.2 This reality makes it critical for workers to differentiate themselves. In a market where AI and a surplus of entry-level candidates are squeezing opportunities, an associate's or bachelor's degree becomes the essential tool for advancement. This higher education provides the skills to design, manage, and leverage AI-powered systems, ensuring a worker is the one directing the technology, not competing with it for a job.

The necessity of this advanced education is underscored by the recent embrace of vocational studies by elite institutions like Harvard University. When a top academic university launches workforce development initiatives and invests in practical skills training, it signals a major shift: the future of all work, including the trades, will require a higher level of analytical and strategic thinking. This move suggests that the most valuable professionals will be those who can blend hands-on competence with the advanced problem-solving and leadership skills honed in a degree program. A degree is what elevates a worker from a technician in a trade to a leader who can manage the increasingly complex and technology-driven future of that industry—a future that even Harvard now recognizes is worthy of investment.