While trade work may not be for everyone, it can be more accommodating than many realize, according to the Steel Tube Institute’s Executive Director, Dale Crawford. In fact, they offer roles for many personality types.
Recent unemployment among college graduates has been steadily rising, and wider doubts about whether a degree is really worth its price tag has been simmering for years. While public perception of white-collar work wavers, the trades have emerged as a sturdy — even among younger, digital-native generations.
“There is more awareness among younger generations of skilled labor than many realize,” Crawford explained to Broadband Nation. “What often gets overlooked, though, are the wide-ranging benefits these careers provide.”
Within the electrical field, he exemplified, there are roles for “nearly every type of personality and preference” — from someone keen to solve problems while traveling the country to very consistent and repeatable neighborhood work.
Positions in broadband are similar: an in-demand fiber splicer may be on the road more often than not, while another installation tech may remain very local (depending on the company and position).
“Whether someone wants residential, commercial or industrial work, the trades offer pathways that match different schedules, work environments and long-term career goals,” Crawford contended.
He also pushed back on the common belief that trade careers are static — with years spent in the same service role.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about skilled trades is that they do not offer room for career growth,” he said. “Skilled workers can advance into education, management, engineering, technical sales and many other areas both within and alongside the trades. This broadens the field significantly and opens doors for people with a wide range of interests and ambitions.”
In Crawford’s eyes, what it really provides in the uncertainty plaguing young learners and jobseekers is flexibility — to explore, to earn while learning and return to education based on interest, not convention.
"If college is not the right fit at the moment, you can always return later, often with stronger financial footing and valuable work experience,” he detailed.
“Speaking as someone who came through the traditional college route and now teaches as an adjunct professor, I see clearly that different paths can work for different people at different phases of life,” Crawford continued. “A trade career can ebb and flow alongside those phases, providing both stability and opportunity.”
Drive is the differentiator, training is the trajectory
When it comes to applying to these jobs, Crawford’s advice aligns with many successful tradesfolk in broadband — a drive to learn and adapt is a real differentiator.
“The applicants who really stand out are those who show flexibility, a strong desire to learn, and the drive to dig in and do the work,” said Crawford. “People who take pride in what they do tend to thrive in these careers.”
In the trades — especially in broadband — training tends to come on the job. While that provides the benefit of pay, Crawford also noted it can lay a foundation for new areas of specialized training down the road.
That can include university degrees, without the lofty price tag. Take Kameryn Cofield, an experienced field technician who is also finishing a computer science degree with a focus in IT — fully online and fully paid for by her employer.
Broadband tradesfolk are particularly well positioned for evolving education since internet connection has become not only critical in day-to-day lives (like many traditional trades), but also an underpinning framework for future technologies.
“Broadband is now essential infrastructure, and federal investments plus evolving state plans are creating a long runway of buildouts that will keep demand high across communications trades,” he detailed. “We are seeing convergence at the edge: fiber installation pairs naturally with electricians for power, grounding and code compliance, and with HVAC for cooling network rooms and shelters.”
It’s a convergence that could help formalize and evolve broadband training closer to its veteran sister trades — like ironwork or electrical work. “Training and credentials are scaling quickly from fiber-tech pathways to nationally recognized tower certifications and registered apprenticeships, making these careers more structured, safer and portable," Crawford added.
That portability and reliability may become increasingly attractive to jobseekers when many professions face an uncertain footing. While AI is expected to massively reshuffle the white-collar world, broadband trades are poised for the future.
“As the needs of our communities and infrastructure evolve, these careers remain not only relevant but essential,” concluded Crawford.
Interested in exploring job opportunities within the industry? Check out our jobs board, training portal and Learning Center.