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5 blue-collar jobs on the rise in the AI era

From electricians to wind-turbine technicians, these skilled trades are in high demand and resistant to automation

ByHaley Chamberlain

Modern blue collar jobs are seeing a major revival, and a key driver appears to be that many of these trades resist automation, even in the age of AI.

Demographic shifts, rising infrastructure investment, a growing clean-energy sector, and Gen Z’s skepticism of mounting student debt are all redirecting talent towards skilled trades.

In short: Blue-collar careers are making a comeback — and not just as fallback jobs, but as a core driver of economic growth in the AI era.

Here are five blue collar careers on the rise right now.

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Electricians powering the AI data center boom

Emmanuel Ikwuegbu / Unsplash

Data-center construction is surging, and electricians are critical to these builds. Built In reporter, Matt Urwin, notes that construction, electrical, and HVAC work remain resistant to automation. This makes electricians one of the fastest-growing trades in tech-adjacent sectors.

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Construction workers undergirding green-energy projects

Ascel Kadhem / Unsplash

Government and private investments into infrastructure are creating a major uptick in construction roles. Projects in renewable energy and public works amplify the need for skilled labor.

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HVAC technicians maintaining critical facilities

Kien Nguyen / Unsplash

HVAC technicians are crucial for keeping data centers, offices, and industrial facilities climate-controlled. Matt Urwin at Built In highlights that these roles cannot easily be automated, ensuring stable demand.

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Welders and technicians enabling a manufacturing push

Rob Lambert / Unsplash

The U.S. is trying to reinvigorate domestic manufacturing, and companies need skilled workers for welding, machining, and assembly jobs. Experts from ResumeCoach report that jobs in welding and metalwork are among the top-growth, blue-collar careers.

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Wind-turbine technicians maintaining renewable energy boom

Karsten Wurth / Unsplash

The rise of renewables is behind thousands of new roles for wind-turbine installation and maintenance experts. ResumeCoach identifies wind-turbine technicians as one of the fastest-growing skilled trades through 2032. These jobs combine technical skill with sustainability-focused work, making them highly attractive to younger workers.