Yesterday was National Skilled Trades Day. At Ford, we don’t just see this as a date on the calendar. We see it as a call to action for one of the most important and overlooked parts of our country: the Essential Economy.
My grandfather’s job as a skilled tradesman in a Ford factory paved the way for my family to rise in America (to paraphrase Nathaniel Hawthorne). Now, I spend a lot of time in our plants and at our dealerships. I see the mastery it takes to weld a frame, diagnose a complex EV powertrain, or manage a massive construction site like our recently completed new world headquarters. These aren't “fallback” jobs. They are high-tech, high-precision, and high-pride careers.
But we have a major problem.
For decades, we’ve sold a version of the American Dream that only has one path: a four-year degree. We’ve unintentionally told a generation of smart, hands-on kids that if they don't go that route, they’re settling.
We need to change the conversation parents and kids are having across the dinner table.
The data tells the story.
- In many states, a master plumber or a senior automotive technician can out-earn a mid-level lawyer or accountant, often crossing the six-figure mark without the same crushing burden of student debt.
- We are facing a massive shortage. Half of the skilled trade workforce is over the age of 55. As they retire, they take decades of knowledge with them.
- When we don’t have enough tradespeople, everything gets more expensive. Housing costs spike. Infrastructure crumbles. Supply chains break. A nation that can’t build and fix things is a nation at risk.
“By treating these career commitments with the same prestige as athletic signings, we are helping elevate the technical education that is vital to Detroit’s future.”
I was proud to see Ford Philanthropy team up with SkillsUSA and Detroit Public Schools for the first-ever Detroit Signing Day at Breithaupt Career and Technical Center. This celebration honored over 50 students pursuing careers in fields like automotive technology and welding. By treating these career commitments with the same prestige as athletic signings, we are helping elevate the technical education that is vital to Detroit’s future.
In the sports world, we throw parties when a kid signs a letter of intent to play football. We should be bringing that same level of energy and respect to the kid signing up to build our power grid, our homes, and our vehicles.
To the parents out there: If your son or daughter is a “builder” — someone who wants to solve real-world problems with their hands and their heads — encourage that. It can be a path to a great life, a stable family, and a sense of purpose.
America was built by people who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Our industrial legacy is one of our greatest strengths. Let’s stop treating the trades as a “Plan B” and start treating them like the backbone of our future.
Because they are.
Jim Farley is president and CEO of Ford.
