# Skilled Trades on The No Agenda Show

Skilled Trades comes up in 3 chapters across 3 episodes of The No Agenda Show, from May 2024 to May 2026.

- **Chapters:** 3
- **Episodes:** 3
- **Discussed:** May 2024 – May 2026
- **Related topics:** [Ai](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/ai.md), [Apprenticeships](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/apprenticeships.md), [At&t](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/at-t.md), [Department Of Labor](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/department-of-labor.md), [Fiber](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/fiber.md), [Plumbers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/plumbers.md), [Plumbing](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/plumbing.md), [Vocational Training](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/vocational-training.md)

## Chapters 1–3 of 3

### AT&T, Fiber Infrastructure and Skilled Trades Jobs

- **Episode:** [1870: VBS](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1870-vbs.md)
- **Published:** 2026-05-21
- **Time:** 1:47:48–1:51:10
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1870-vbs/chapter/at-t-fiber-infrastructure-and-skilled-trades-jobs.md

AT&T CEO John Stankey highlighted the need for 10,000 new technicians to build the fiber infrastructure required for the AI generation. The discussion emphasizes a misalignment in the U.S. education system, which overvalues college degrees while facing a shortage of HVAC repairmen, electricians, and fiber technicians. A story of a successful college dropout finding a career at AT&T serves as an example of the value of skilled trades over traditional academia.

Keywords: [at&t](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/at-t.md), john stankey, [fiber](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/fiber.md), [ai](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/ai.md), [skilled trades](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/skilled-trades.md), college dropout

### Skilled Trades, Modern Apprenticeship Trends

- **Episode:** [1793: Retribution](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1793-retribution.md)
- **Published:** 2025-08-24
- **Time:** 21:00–24:15
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1793-retribution/chapter/skilled-trades-modern-apprenticeship-trends.md

Reports from various states indicate a resurgence in skilled trade apprenticeships among Gen Z workers, particularly in Michigan and Alabama. While the Department of Labor regulates these 8,000-hour programs, some participants report a disparity between high-quality on-the-job training and poor instruction at trade colleges. New facilities like Baldwin Prep in Alabama are emerging to provide alternatives to traditional four-year degrees.

Keywords: [apprenticeships](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/apprenticeships.md), [skilled trades](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/skilled-trades.md), [department of labor](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/department-of-labor.md), machining, [plumbing](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/plumbing.md)

### Skilled Trades Surge, College Enrollment Decline

- **Episode:** [1659: ungreen](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1659-ungreen.md)
- **Published:** 2024-05-12
- **Time:** 2:17:21–2:18:56
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1659-ungreen/chapter/skilled-trades-surge-college-enrollment-decline.md

High school graduates are increasingly choosing skilled trades and apprenticeships over traditional four-year college paths. This shift is expected to result in lower fall enrollment for universities in 2024 as students prioritize careers in plumbing, carpentry, and other vocational fields.

Keywords: [skilled trades](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/skilled-trades.md), apprenticeship, college enrollment, [plumbers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/plumbers.md), [vocational training](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/vocational-training.md)

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