White-collar workers are bracing for the rise of artificial intelligence tools, but commercial contractors are looking at an unexpected upside: a fresh wave of interest in the trades.

Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” recently made headlines with a simple piece of advice as AI gains ground: “Train to be a plumber.”

“I think plumbers are less at risk,” he continued. “Someone like a legal assistant…they’re not going to be needed for very long.”

AI is reshaping the job market, and skilled trades are emerging as some of the safest and most secure roles in the economy.

That message is resonating with young people entering the workforce. And if you're trying to hire in today’s brutal skilled labor market, it could mean a real opportunity to attract a new generation of workers who are actively looking for stable, hands-on careers.

AI Is Making the Trades Look Safer Than the Office

Microsoft recently released a list of roles at highest risk from AI. At the top are interpreters, writers, customer service reps, and salespeople. Near the bottom? Roofers, heavy equipment operators, firefighters, masons, and mechanics. The jobs that can’t be done by typing are sticking around.

“Automation is a low threat to these jobs,” said Tony Spagnoli, director of testing and education at North American Technician Excellence. “AI can’t replace parts or make improvisational decisions.”

“Gen Z’s interest in trade work and hands-on careers shows a desire for purpose, security, and control in an AI-driven world,” said Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at Zety. “I call this shift the ‘AIxiety Pivot.’ [It’s] a growing movement of professionals who are proactively changing course because of AI-related fears and instability.”

Gen Z Is Looking Hard at the Trades

Younger workers are doing the math, and many don’t like what they see in traditional office jobs. A Resume Builder survey of 1,400 Gen Z adults found that 42% were either working in or training for a skilled trade. Their top motivations are avoiding student debt and minimizing the risk of getting replaced by AI.

New data from Zety backs that up: nearly three out of four Gen Z workers believe AI will reduce entry-level corporate job opportunities in the next five years. In the same survey, skilled trades were ranked as one of the safest and most secure career options.

Still, challenges remain. 

According to the Zety survey, Gen Z workers are factoring in the physical demands of trade work and concerns about upward mobility. It also points to a general lack of awareness about these careers as a barrier.

For contractors, this is a chance to address those concerns directly, whether that means showing clear advancement paths, promoting training support, or simply telling a better story about what a career in the trades looks like.

The Bottom Line

As AI reshapes the job market, more people are looking for careers that feel future-proof. The trades are rising to the top of that list.

Contractors who want to take advantage of this shift need to be ready. That means showing clear career paths from apprentice to foreman. It means investing in structured training, not just sink-or-swim jobsite learning. 

It means building relationships with trade schools and high school programs that are catching this early wave of interest. And it means creating work environments that attract and keep younger talent looking for stability and purpose.

The interest is already building. The only question is whether you’re ready to take advantage of it.