Swapping White For Blue Collar Jobs: 5 Ways To Transition Into The Trades

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece for Forbes.com on “new collar workers”—a new category in hiring that leaves college degrees in the dust and gives more attention to skilled employees with a nontraditional education. Job turnover is at its highest since 2015, according to Gallup. One in two U.S. employees are open to leaving their organization. Now, there is a trend of swapping white for blue-collar jobs due to opportunities for more advancement and pay.

Blue-Collar Jobs Gaining Popularity

Just 40% of high school grads who go to four-year colleges have earned degrees within six years. According to the Harvard Business Review, many workers are unable to advance because they don’t have a bachelor’s degree and are stuck in low-paying jobs. So, for those thinking about a pivot, what are their options when a report by Accenture found that degree inflation led to more than 60% of employers rejecting otherwise qualified candidates in terms of skills or experience simply because they did not have a college diploma.

I spoke by email with Anne Marshall, CMO of Stronghouse Solutions and co-CEO of Marshall Building & Remodeling. She told me that she is adamant that a four-year college degree is not a reliable barometer for future success. As someone who has built a career developing and amplifying the voices of skilled workers, Marshall knows what she’s talking about. She grew her company from a $4 million to $35 million business.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2020 and 2030, 60% of new jobs—some yielding six figures—will be occupations that won’t require any type of college degree. Companies are looking for workers to meet their diversity goals and reduce social and economic inequality. The Harvard Business Review declares that these problems could be alleviated if employers focus on job candidates’ skills instead of their degree status: “There’s a huge, capable and diverse talent pool out there that companies aren’t paying nearly enough attention to: workers without college degrees.”

Marshall agrees. “I have never once asked a candidate whether they have a degree because I know first-hand that skills, work ethic and capabilities always trump credentials,” she assured me. “The most effective way for workers to improve and nourish their skills and capabilities is through a combination of mentoring, training and a workplace culture that prioritizes ongoing development and openness to fresh perspectives.”

Marshall’s strategy goes against the long-held traditional grain that the four-year college degree—a symbol of accomplishment, prestige and pride—is imperative for social acceptance and career success. For as long as many of us can remember, high-school graduates were encouraged to pursue a college degree for financial and psychological security.

That message has been drilled into students’ heads from parents and schools, according to James Neave, head of data science at Adzuna—the world’s most comprehensive job search engine. He agrees with Marshall that a framed diploma on the wall in 2024 is no longer necessary for highly-qualified job seekers to land a job that is gratifying and pays a high salary.

“The Adzuna data indicates that skills, rather than degrees, are the top requirement candidates must have to secure a ‘high-paying job’ today, whether job candidates are looking for deskless or corporate positions,” Neave told me.

Marshall also believes that apprenticeship is a critical piece to the skills-hiring puzzle. “While theoretical instruction is great, hands-on learning with a mentor’s guidance is the most efficient way to gain practical skills and knowledge that can be applied in a real-world setting,” she points out. “While the skilled trades are famous for this structured approach, I am confident that it can be applied more rigorously and with success for more desk-oriented work.”

Neave adds, “As this year goes on, we expect businesses will continue prioritizing skills over degrees to fill open roles, including those that come with top pay checks.” According to Business Insider, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook also have questioned the need for college degrees, and more companies are following suit, acknowledging that degree requirements put them at a competitive disadvantage. Dropping the four-year degree requirement could be a welcoming and encouraging win-win for both employers and employees from a disenfranchised segment of the workforce without a degree.

Transition From White Collar To Blue Collar Work

Skilled trade jobs offer stable, high paying careers with ongoing learning and development opportunities. They involve challenges that can keep people motivated to steadily accomplish more and get people away from the confines of a desk or computer. As more white collar workers think about making the shift to skills-based work, Marshall offers five tips to keep in mind.

1. Conduct a self-assessment. One of the most important exercises you can do before making this transition is to evaluate your own skills and interests. Ask yourself which skills you already possess that are most transferable to skilled work, like communication and problem-solving abilities and which skills may need to be learned. Ask yourself what you are truly passionate about—what will ignite that inner fire.
2. Explore your options. Before making any big life decision, research is key. The skilled trades landscape is vast—construction, carpentry, welding, plumbing, electric, auto care and more. Take time to see what’s out there and then talk to people who are doing these jobs to find out what it’s really like. Tap into your network to speak to as many people as possible so that you can make a more informed decision.
3. Understand the requirements. Most skilled trades require certain training, certifications and licenses. Make sure that you fully research the requirements for each trade to understand what is involved, both of your time and finances.
4. Find a mentor. The importance of mentorship for skilled tradespeople cannot be underestimated. A mentor can provide insights and perspectives that would take years to acquire on your own and that you’d never find in a textbook, not to mention guidance around the trade you’re trying to learn. Networking events and trade school alumni networks are both great places to start looking for a mentor.
5. Be flexible, adaptable and persistent. Any career change takes time and patience. Embracing an agile mindset will help you navigate the ups-and- downs of a career transition while showcasing the coveted skills of flexibility and persistence to potential employers