Ten years ago, I posted twice about the wisdom of encouraging young people to learn to code, Mothers Make Sure Your Daughters Grow Up To Be Coders, and, Both My Left and Right Brains Say Go For It!   (I encourage you to read these links.) As an example of my commitment to this skill, I even took an all-day Saturday session called “Ladies Learning to Code.” By 11:oo a.m., however, I was lost and spent the rest of the day zoned out—just like in high school math classes. Too much like algebra and definitely not in my aptitude skill-set.

I spent more than thirty years working in the construction industry as Marketing Manager for EllisDon Corporation, one of Canada’s largest international construction companies. The industry constantly promoted the advantages of a career in the trades, and there are still vast shortages of skilled, trained workers and technicians. Emphasis on a university or college education has been prioritized for decades at the expense of many viable, practical options. There seems to be a seriously misguided social stigma against working with your hands. A university education is not the hallowed north star for everyone.

Thanks to the rapid development of AI, a lot has changed in ten years, and while coding is still a vital skill, I’m not so sure anymore that it’s still the key to the future. AI is even taking over the job of coding. What I do know for sure is that if you have a grandchild who is a plumber, electrician, drywaller, mason, or carpenter, they will never be out of well-paying, secure work.

A couple of weeks ago, our dishwasher crapped out. Something got stuck in the drain line, and my YouTube-assisted attempts at fixing it myself were not successful, so I had to call in a professional. The technician spent a maximum of ten minutes in my kitchen fixing the problem, and the bill was $163.00!! Raise your grandchildren to be tradespeople. In fact, one plumber who comes to our house regularly brings his daughter along. She’s in her early 20s, has a better disposition than her plumber dad, and I would be delighted to pay her to replace the seals on my toilets.

I once spent about $600.00 on assorted appliance repairmen who were unsuccessful in determining why my dryer wouldn’t work. They ultimately recommended buying a new dryer. Finally, an electrician determined the problem was with the electrical outlet—not the dryer—which he fixed in a few minutes. The knowledge of qualified tradespeople is immeasurable; they’re miracle workers.

I’ve always had a problem with the degree of emphasis on university degrees when so many young people are not well-served by spending four years in university and accumulating tens of thousands of dollars in debt. The trades are a safe, respectable, and profitable way of earning a living. More young people should be guided toward becoming an electrician, plumber, mason, carpenter, millworker, or any one of a number of alternative career choices. Many of these trade skills will never be replaced by A.I. and offer a level of employment security wherever you choose to live. Whether you move to a small town, a city, or another country, tradespeople will always be in demand.

Your family doesn’t need to spend a fortune or go into debt for a university degree that may or may not ensure a decent job. I’m confident AI will never replace a good hairdresser, a conscientious PSW (personal service worker), farmer, tradesperson, or landscaper. Good mechanics are also in demand, although they do need to be computer-literate these days. Coding skills will always come in handy, but a degree in Women’s Studies, Art History, or Philosophy may not guarantee a steady income. This is in no way intended to diminish the value of a university education, but there are valuable and high-income alternatives available. If your children and grandchildren plan to start a family in the future, they will need marketable, AI-proof job skills. These jobs can lead to leadership positions and entrepreneurship (owning your own company), as well as the freedom to work wherever you want while still making good money. It wouldn’t hurt if they could still code, too. It’s a win-win. Give it some serious thought.