Jobs of the future · 6 min read
Are skilled trades a good career for the future?
Electricians are projected to grow much faster than average to 2035, energy employers report shortages, and hands-on work is far less exposed to AI than office work.
The short answer
For many people, yes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects electrician jobs to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with demand from energy, building and electrical infrastructure work. The International Energy Agency reports skills shortages in grid and electrical work worldwide. The International Labour Organization finds generative AI exposure is concentrated in clerical and office work rather than hands-on trades. Trades are physically demanding and usually start with a lower-paid apprenticeship, so test the work before committing.
On this page 4 sections
What the data says
- BLS projects electrician employment to grow 9% between 2025 and 2035, from about 821,000 to about 897,000 jobs in the US.
- The IEA reports that energy companies face skills shortages, with grids among the hardest areas to staff.
- The ILO's 2025 index finds generative AI exposure concentrated in clerical and office work, and far lower for hands-on jobs.
What the work is like
Physical, varied and often outdoors or in other people's homes. You solve a practical problem, see the result the same day, and deal with customers directly. Early years mean lower pay while you train, early starts and a lot of carrying and kneeling.
Questions to answer before you commit
- Do you enjoy physical work for a whole day, not just an hour?
- Can you live on an apprentice wage for a few years, or find an adult route that pays more?
- Would you like to run your own business eventually? Many tradespeople do.
- Which trade has the most demand where you live?
Questions people ask
- Which trades have the best outlook?
- Electrical work stands out, with BLS projecting much faster than average growth and the IEA reporting shortages in grid work. HVAC and heat pump installation, plumbing, and maintenance roles for wind, solar and batteries also look steady.
- Will AI or robots replace tradespeople?
- Not soon for most trades. The work happens in varied, unpredictable places that are hard to automate. AI is more likely to help with quoting, diagnostics and paperwork.
- Am I too old to start a trade?
- Adult apprenticeships exist in many countries, and some employers value life experience. The physical demands and an apprentice wage for a few years are the real things to weigh.
- How long does it take to qualify?
- Commonly three to five years for a full electrician or plumber qualification through an apprenticeship, depending on the country and licence.
- Can I try a trade without committing?
- Yes. Try an evening taster course at a college, help a tradesperson for a day, or do a small supervised job at home with proper guidance. Never do electrical work you aren't qualified for.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Electricians: job outlook · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Total employment projected to grow 3.5 percent between 2025 and 2035 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Economics Daily
- Energy employment has surged, but growing skills shortages threaten future momentum · International Energy Agency
- Generative AI and jobs: a refined global index of occupational exposure (Working Paper 140, 2025) · International Labour Organization and NASK
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.