The Trades Won. Your Degree Didn't. And the Data's Been There All Along.

Reflect w/ Ed Fassio — where AI tells the stories that matter. Skilled trades wages jumped 30% since 2022. Ford and AT&T are actively recruiting electricians, HVAC techs, and plumbers while white-collar entry-level hiring quietly softens. 63% of workers say AI is already making the workplace feel less human. And the AI data center buildout — the thing powering the tools disrupting office work — is creating an enormous demand for the physical workers who can build and maintain it. Julius and Hale tell the story of a generation that made a different bet. The kids who skipped the four-year degree, learned a trade, and are now watching 2026 deliver the verdict. It's not a simple "trades good, college bad" story. It's more complicated and more honest than that. The American Dream got narrowed to a single path for a generation. 2026 is widening it back out. And for the people who made the trade path work — that's worth owning. Your Move: Run the actual numbers on trades vs. degree paths in your region before running the cultural assumptions. If you're in enterprise leadership, build the trades shortage into your infrastructure timelines. And if you made the trade path — it's okay to feel like the bet paid off. — Reflect w/ Ed Fassio | reflectpodcast.com Send us Fan Mail Support the showLISTEN TO MORE EPISODES: https://www.reflectpodcast.com